Trees, the Lungs of the Planet

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Trees, the Lungs of the Planet

Trees

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Lungs of the Planet

Trees are a very important part of our landscape and lifestyle. We make

very good use of them in a variety of ways. Shade on a hot sunny day to provider

of fresh fruit, lumber and the basic material of paper, but did you know

they are considered the lungs of the planet. They keep our air supply fresh by

absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. Acting as an enormous "carbon

sink", trees soak up carbon dioxide from the air, producing life-giving

oxygen in return.

In one year, a single tree can absorb as much carbon as is produced by a car

driven 26,000 miles. In a tree, 'breathing' takes place in the leaf.

Chlorophyll (the substance causing the green colour) absorbs the CO2 and uses it

along with water to dissolve minerals taken up through the roots. After the

chemical reaction is completed, the leaf releases oxygen and water vapor

through its pores. One tree produces nearly 118 kg (260 pounds) of oxygen each

year. One acre of trees removes up to 2.34 tons (2.6 tons) of carbon dioxide

each year.

 

Defying gravity & outperforming mechanical pumps

There are two ways that a tree can take in water: through the leaves and

through the roots. They absorb small amounts of moisture from the air through

their leaves and their bark. Most of their water, however, comes via the

roots.

To carry the great amounts of water needed to the leaves, a tree is equipped

with a circulation system of amazing intricacy that extends from the

millions of root hairs through the trunks and the branches to the hundreds of

thousands of leaves. In the case of the Giant Sequoia of California, this means

that some of the water collected by the roots must travel a distance of nearly

450 feet (this measurement includes estimated root size! to get to the

highest leaves of the tallest trees.This seems to contradict a basic law of

physics.

 

To raise water that high requires a pressure of about 420 pounds per square

inch. However, atmospheric pressure at sea level is only about 15 pounds to

the square inch, and this limits the height that a suction pump can raise

water to a mere 33 feet. Not only does the tree attain the tremendous pressure

required, but it does so with a speed of flow so great that in certain

trees water rises at the speed of almost 150 feet an hour. Trees improve water

quality by slowing and filtering rain water as well as protecting aquifers and

watersheds. We need to protect our forests, not just for their beauty and

habitat for plants,fauna and animals but the breath of life they give us.

 

Did You Know

Trees are the longest living organisms on earth General Sherman a giant

redwood sequoia of California is about 84 m (275 ft) high with a girth of 8 m

(25 ft) The cottonwood tree seed is so light, it can be carried on the air

for several days. The world's tallest tree is a coast redwood in California,

measuring more than 110 m (360 ft). The world's oldest trees are 4,600

year old Bristlecone pines in the USA. A mature birch tree can produce up to 1

million seeds per year.A mature oak tree can draw up to 190 litres (50

gallons) or more of water per day.

 

Amazing trees.

Africa has the Baobabs with enormous trunks that are living water towers topped with a few wizened limbs. A good specimen is capable of storing more than 25.000 gallons. Some are up to three thousand years

old With age these great trees will often become hollow and have been known

to be used as houses. There was one famous tree, which was used as a bus stop

and could shelter as many as 30 waiting people from the burning sun. The Ada

Tree of Australia is 72 m (236 ft) high and has a 15.4 m (50 ft) girth

and a root system that takes up more than an acre.Australian Bottle Trees

can withstands temperatures of -10 C.(14 F) to +50 C (122 F) in it's natural

habitat.

 

Diesel Tree

In the Amazon there is the diesel tree Copaiba Langsdorfii, that produces

a sap which is so similar to diesel that it can be poured straight into a

truck's fuel tank

 

The Serendipity berry is 3000 times sweeter than sucrose. In spite of this

it has a lower calorie content.Africa's sausage tree smells like a mouse;

this compels bats to pollinate it.

 

Paper consumption.

In Canada an acre of forest is cut every 12.9 seconds. Trees logged from

Canadain a single year, would fill more than 4.300.000 logging trucks; lined up

bumper to bumper they would be long enough to encircle the world 2½ times.

 

Paper consumption in the 20th century continues to increase. Do we really

want to shred up the lungs of the Earth to receive yet more unwanted

junk-mail to our homes?Think about this when you use paper. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Links for more information

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_http://www.treesaregood.com_ (http://www.treesaregood.com/)

_http://www.senegal-online.com/anglais/parcs-faune-flore/baobab.htm_

(http://www.senegal-online.com/anglais/parcs-faune-flore/baobab.htm)

For a picture of a branch loaded with people. _http://www.grasstree.com/bottletree.htm_

(http://www.grasstree.com/bottletree.htm) If you go to this site have a look at the Grass Tree.

_http://www.the-tree.org.uk/EnchantedForest/wyrd4.htm_

(http://www.the-tree.org.uk/EnchantedForest/wyrd4.htm)

 

 

"A clean house is a sign of a misspent life"

 

 

 

 

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