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Scientists Surprised to Find Earth's Biosphere Booming

Posted June 09, 2008 8:47 AM

From Slashdot:

An article from the Financial Post says that recent studies of biosphere imaging from the NASA SEAWIFS satellite indicate that the Earth's biomass is booming: 'The results surprised Steven Running of the University of Montana and Ramakrishna Nemani of NASA, scientists involved in analyzing the NASA satellite data. They found that over a period of almost two decades, the Earth as a whole became more bountiful by a whopping 6.2%. About 25% of the Earth's vegetated landmass — almost 110 million square kilometers — enjoyed significant increases and only 7% showed significant declines. When the satellite data zooms in, it finds that each square meter of land, on average, now produces almost 500 grams of greenery per year.' Their 2004 study, and other more recent ones, point to the warming of the planet and the presence of CO2, fertilizing the biota and resulting in the increased green side effect.

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Guru
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#1

Re: Scientists Surprised to Find Earth's Biosphere Booming

06/09/2008 9:44 AM

I thought my lawn was a little exuberant this summer.


It's amazing what a little warmth and CO2 can do.

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Anonymous Poster
#5
In reply to #1

Re: Scientists Surprised to Find Earth's Biosphere Booming

06/10/2008 4:23 PM

BTW, has anyone looked at the increase in CO2 levels for correlation against the worldwide population? As we are expelling CO2 with every breath it seems that their likely is a correlation.

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Guru
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#2

Re: Scientists Surprised to Find Earth's Biosphere Booming

06/09/2008 9:53 AM

How strong is the correlation between atmospheric carbon dioxide level changes and the vegetation boom?

What is the time lag in the system?

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Guru
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#3
In reply to #2

Re: Scientists Surprised to Find Earth's Biosphere Booming

06/09/2008 10:03 AM

1) Not strong enough to avoid an argument I suspect.

2) Most growth is seasonal, so I'd guess the lag is no more than a year for an individual plant, a few years for an ecosystem.

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Guru
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#4
In reply to #3

Re: Scientists Surprised to Find Earth's Biosphere Booming

06/09/2008 10:23 AM

<...Not strong enough to avoid an argument...>

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Power-User

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#6

Re: Scientists Surprised to Find Earth's Biosphere Booming

06/10/2008 4:57 PM

Why should 'scientists' of all people, be surprised about the 'facts' in this post from slashdot?

Surely, if anyone should know 'warming of the earth' creates more vegetation and hence more fauna, it should have been the scientists! End of story?.....Probably not...............

jfmfit

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Guru
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#7

Re: Scientists Surprised to Find Earth's Biosphere Booming

06/11/2008 1:43 AM

The only way to slow down that biomass growth, is to eliminate a few billion people, plus all their animals.

sadly, there are those who have exactly those plans, and are endeavouring to implement those plans as soon as possible.

Kind Regards....

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#8
In reply to #7

Re: Scientists Surprised to Find Earth's Biosphere Booming

06/11/2008 6:30 AM

Hello Sparkstation:,

hope you are fine?

Can I ask you a question please? You do not have to answer but it might give me a better insight in the 'why and wherefores'?

On this topic of Biomass growth, I thought I had give a reasoned reply, that was on topic. Would you know why I have been voted 'off topic'?

I also seem to have lost the one and only GA I had on "how to clean tarnish from a brass train".

I like this site, but, if I can lose a GA now, which was given weeks ago, once again the site is stalked by 'GA thieves', or is going downhill fast.

I would be obliged for your opinion if you can spare the time please Sparkstation?

jfmfit

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Guru
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#9
In reply to #8

Re: Scientists Surprised to Find Earth's Biosphere Booming

08/14/2008 6:05 AM

Hello jfmfit

Just caught up with your above Question.

I don't know why you were voted "Off Topic".

As far as GA Points go, there is always the possibility of gaining/losing/gaining/losing ad infinitum.

As I explained earlier, in a Posted reply to a similar Question from yourself, GA Points are Subjective not Objective.

Nobody can force some other persons Opinion, and it would be wrong to do so, because that Opinion is Subjective = Each person is entitled to their own Opinion.

Best not to panic about the GA Point situation, just read Topics and Posts.

Sometime you may have an inspirational reply, you write your reply, and gain a GA Point, perhaps weeks or months later, for that reply.

Trust that assists you.

Kind Regards....

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#10

Re: Scientists Surprised to Find Earth's Biosphere Booming

08/17/2008 12:22 AM

Now the doom & gloom GW crowd will rise in denial of facts. They can only see disaster in any change. The climate changes and mostly without our influence. The warming of the planet means increased rain and more plant growth, the plants love the CO2, and when the plants grow there is more food for the animals, which also multiply. Warming may be beneficial in general, although a little hard on coastal areas, creating new coasts a way inland.

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