Latest climate and biosphere modelling suggests that the length of time carbon remains in vegetation during the global carbon cycle — known as ‘residence time’ — is the key “uncertainty” in predicting how Earth’s terrestrial plant life — and consequently almost all life — will respond to higher CO2 levels and global warming, say researchers.[1] Carbon will spend increasingly less time in vegetation as the negative impacts of climate change take their toll through factors such as increased drought levels — with carbon rapidly released back into the atmosphere where it will continue to add to global warming.
