Crops Emerge as Unexpected Carbon Sinks, Reshaping Climate Solutions
The study looked at how plants, like trees and crops, help remove carbon dioxide from the air, which is important for fighting climate change. Using satellite data, researchers mapped out where plants are growing and how much carbon they are storing. Trees globally are great at storing carbon, but crops are still useful at a local level. The researchers found that by monitoring vegetation and carbon using remote sensing technology, we can understand how much carbon is being stored in different plant types like shrubs, agriculture, and healthy vegetation. This helps us quickly figure out how much carbon is being stored in a specific area. It's crucial to consider both trees and crops when planning how to balance carbon levels in a region because even small-scale crops can act as carbon storage.