4 ms·

>”We still don’t know why they get so high, nor why they’re not even taller” We do know why they don’t get taller - past a certain height the trees can no long

>”We still don’t know why they get so high, nor why they’re not even taller” We do know why they don’t get taller - past a certain height the trees can no longer draw water and nutrients up to the top. Foggy conditions can help the physics/chemistry limits, up to a point.

someone7x 3y ago
They eventually reveal the same conclusion, but with less certainty: > The answers to the “Why so tall?” and “Why not taller?” questions seem to involve water, as is the case for so much about trees. > Ultimately, it’s most likely a matter of hydraulics: A tree’s height appears to be limited by the enormous effort needed to lift water through tiny tubes, or xylem — the transport tissue that constitutes most of its mass.
DinaCoder99 3y ago
Given that the canopy itself modulates the moisture in the air, this explanation seems to provide a bound on the outlier of height relative to other trees more so than an absolute barrier.
VHRanger 3y ago
Yes, there's a reason all the tallest trees recorded are a bit more than 100m high. That's basically the upper limit to get water to the leaves up top
idontwantthis 3y ago
But we also don’t fully know how trees draw up water.
- Fiahil 3y ago
  stomata open, light interacts with chlorophyll, water is moved and creates a tiny depression in the xylem tube, more water moves up through capillarity
RetroTechie 3y ago
> Foggy conditions can help the physics/chemistry limits, up to a point. From what I've read, moist air from the sea is an important factor in these trees' water balance. And it's getting more rare / drier on average. It's a good bet that these trees on average will grow shorter in response to moisture / heat stress (mentioned in article). Perhaps also in response to stronger winds (not mentioned). Tough times ahead for the already-tall ones out there, though. Btw: trees don't need to be big to be awe-inspiring. Once had a Metasequoia growing in a pot, sitting on my desk. Just ~50 cm. high, a close look revealed 5 or 6 spiders had taken up residence in it. Some ants walking up & down its branches. Various species of moss growing at its base. And an assortment of creatures wandering the soil underneath (mostly harmless or beneficial). A whole ecosystem of its own. Nature is awesome, period.

someone7x 3y ago

They eventually reveal the same conclusion, but with less certainty: > The answers to the “Why so tall?” and “Why not taller?” questions seem to involve water, as is the case for so much about trees. > Ultimately, it’s most likely a matter of hydraulics: A tree’s height appears to be limited by the enormous effort needed to lift water through tiny tubes, or xylem — the transport tissue that constitutes most of its mass.

DinaCoder99 3y ago

Given that the canopy itself modulates the moisture in the air, this explanation seems to provide a bound on the outlier of height relative to other trees more so than an absolute barrier.

VHRanger 3y ago

Yes, there's a reason all the tallest trees recorded are a bit more than 100m high. That's basically the upper limit to get water to the leaves up top

idontwantthis 3y ago

But we also don’t fully know how trees draw up water.

Fiahil 3y ago
stomata open, light interacts with chlorophyll, water is moved and creates a tiny depression in the xylem tube, more water moves up through capillarity

RetroTechie 3y ago

> Foggy conditions can help the physics/chemistry limits, up to a point. From what I've read, moist air from the sea is an important factor in these trees' water balance. And it's getting more rare / drier on average. It's a good bet that these trees on average will grow shorter in response to moisture / heat stress (mentioned in article). Perhaps also in response to stronger winds (not mentioned). Tough times ahead for the already-tall ones out there, though. Btw: trees don't need to be big to be awe-inspiring. Once had a Metasequoia growing in a pot, sitting on my desk. Just ~50 cm. high, a close look revealed 5 or 6 spiders had taken up residence in it. Some ants walking up & down its branches. Various species of moss growing at its base. And an assortment of creatures wandering the soil underneath (mostly harmless or beneficial). A whole ecosystem of its own. Nature is awesome, period.