Over the course of millions of years, plants have played a significant role in shaping habitable conditions on Earth. This is according to a new study published in Science Advances. The study by Julian Rogger and his colleagues shows that plants are not just victims of climate change but are also active participants in Earth’s climate cycle.
Through computer models, the researchers demonstrate how plants help regulate the composition of the atmosphere by trapping carbon and emitting oxygen. This process helps control carbon dioxide levels and accelerates the weathering of soils, thereby consuming greenhouse gases. The team found that there is a feedback loop between climate, atmosphere, and plant life. Plants can act as a buffer against slow changes in temperature when given enough time to evolve or spread to new environments. However, rapid changes in climate have led to significant alterations in vegetation and even mass extinctions in the past.
To understand how this feedback loop has interacted throughout Earth’s history, a team of geologists, computer scientists, and earth scientists created a computer model spanning 390 million years. The goal was to study how changes in continents, climate, and vegetation have interacted throughout Earth’s history. By understanding this coevolution of climate, vegetation, and tectonics, researchers hope to gain insight into how quickly vegetation can adapt to sudden changes in temperature.
In conclusion, plants have not only endured climate change but have also played a critical role in shaping Earth’s habitable conditions. By studying how plant life has responded to past environmental changes, researchers hope to gain insight into how vegetation may adapt to future climate challenges.
