Earth will reach critical temperature in 20 years

Scientists from Northern Arizona University, the Woodwell Center for Climate Research, and the University of Waikato

(New Zealand) used data from the last 20 years of measuring instruments in every major biome around the world.As a result, the researchers identified a critical temperature point, beyond which the ability of plants to capture and store atmospheric carbon decreases and the release accelerates.Exceeding this threshold means that the Earth will reach a critical temperature point.

This study is the first of its kind.Previously, no one had determined the temperature threshold for photosynthesis based on observational data on such a global scale. Temperature thresholds for photosynthesis have been studied only in the laboratory. 

Scientists have also named the carbon-rich biomes to be hit first. Among them are tropical forests in the Amazon and Southeast Asia, taiga in Russia and Canada.

Roll-over point graphthe temperature at which Earth's plants will begin to reduce the amount of anthropogenic carbon emissions they can absorb. Photo: Victor O. Leshik / Northern Arizona University

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Biome - a set of ecosystems of one natural and climatic zone. According to other sources, a biome is a biosystem that is larger than a biocenosis, and includes many closely related biocenoses.