As the earth continues to warm, many are left wondering whether or not the trees will be able to handle the changing climate. Trees will be forced to handle higher temperatures, increased carbon dioxide, and more intense storms.
Higher temperatures will stress the trees, so they need to be planted nearer the northern end of their temperature range. CO2 levels will cause the trees to grow more quickly, which is a benefit, but rising ozone levels will damage them. The storms will be more damaging due to rising temperatures and increased water.
Trees also provide benefits for urban areas, as they lower temperatures and mitigate the heat island effect. Lower temperatures leads to lower ozone levels. Some trees, however, emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which, when combined with nitrogen oxide emitted from cars, creates ozone. The key to ozone cleanup is to plant trees for their cooling effects, but to choose those which emit the least amount of VOCs, such as ashes, box elder, ginko, maples, elms, and red buds.
Read the full article in Shade.
