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Forest scenery in sunset
Project

The Breathing Forest

SEI researchers are trying to find out how much CO2 a forest is gaining or losing.

Inactive project

2010

Related people

Howard Cambridge

Software Development and Data Manager

SEI York

Andreas Heinemeyer

Senior Research Fellow

SEI York

The challenge is that forests both take up CO2 (through photosynthesis) as well as release it (through respiration); it is the balance which decides whether a forest is a net source or store of carbon.

They have developed novel ways of measuring the breathing out from different parts of the forest. Somewhat surprisingly, one of the most important sources of CO2 in the forest is the respiration of the millions of organisms that have their homes in the soil.

 

 

 

Related centres
SEI York