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Article doesn't mention it but a significant factor for growth at high altitudes is the concentration of CO2, which gets thinner just like oxygen the higher abo

Article doesn't mention it but a significant factor for growth at high altitudes is the concentration of CO2, which gets thinner just like oxygen the higher above sea level you go. Higher concentrations of CO2 enables a higher tree line.

colechristensen 2y ago
But the actual top altitude where trees survive is a function of temperature primarily.
- chrisco255 2y ago
  Evidence that Higher [CO2] Increases Tree Growth-Sensitivity to Temperature: A Comparison of Modern and Paleo Oaks https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6108346/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6108346/ If you read above it shows that temperature sensitivity is inversely proportional to CO2 density. In other words the thinner the CO2 the more sensitive plants are to temperature swings. Higher CO2 makes the plants more resilient at higher altitudes, not to mention the long-studied effect on growth, which improves survivability for all species of plants at all altitudes.
aaron695 2y ago
[dead]
whyenot 2y ago
> Higher concentrations of CO2 enables a higher tree line. While this may make some intuitive sense, [CO2] actually has very little bearing on tree line. The major factors are temperature and length of the growing season. Trees need liquid water to be able to transpire and grow. The growing season also needs to be long enough that trees can harvest enough energy (sugars) from sunlight to power respiration during cold nights and long winters. If you are aware of some articles showing that [CO2] is a limiting factor at high elevations, please share them :) Tree line is tends to be higher at lower latitudes
- chrisco255 2y ago
  CO2 has a huge effect, actually: Photosynthetic Responses of Trees in High-Elevation Forests: Comparing Evergreen Species Along an Elevation Gradient in the Central Andes https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4512032/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4512032/ Evidence that Higher [CO2] Increases Tree Growth-Sensitivity to Temperature: A Comparison of Modern and Paleo Oaks https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6108346/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6108346/

colechristensen 2y ago

But the actual top altitude where trees survive is a function of temperature primarily.

chrisco255 2y ago
Evidence that Higher [CO2] Increases Tree Growth-Sensitivity to Temperature: A Comparison of Modern and Paleo Oaks https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6108346/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6108346/ If you read above it shows that temperature sensitivity is inversely proportional to CO2 density. In other words the thinner the CO2 the more sensitive plants are to temperature swings. Higher CO2 makes the plants more resilient at higher altitudes, not to mention the long-studied effect on growth, which improves survivability for all species of plants at all altitudes.

aaron695 2y ago

[dead]

whyenot 2y ago

> Higher concentrations of CO2 enables a higher tree line. While this may make some intuitive sense, [CO2] actually has very little bearing on tree line. The major factors are temperature and length of the growing season. Trees need liquid water to be able to transpire and grow. The growing season also needs to be long enough that trees can harvest enough energy (sugars) from sunlight to power respiration during cold nights and long winters. If you are aware of some articles showing that [CO2] is a limiting factor at high elevations, please share them :) Tree line is tends to be higher at lower latitudes

chrisco255 2y ago
CO2 has a huge effect, actually: Photosynthetic Responses of Trees in High-Elevation Forests: Comparing Evergreen Species Along an Elevation Gradient in the Central Andes https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4512032/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4512032/ Evidence that Higher [CO2] Increases Tree Growth-Sensitivity to Temperature: A Comparison of Modern and Paleo Oaks https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6108346/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6108346/