The critical temperature, the excess of which will deactivate the photosynthetic mechanisms of tropical trees, is 46.7 degrees Celsius. These conclusions were reached by a team of scientists who studied the effect of heat on plant leaves. In his opinion, photosynthesis in the tropics will stop after the average air temperature on Earth rises to the specified value. The results of the study are published in the journal Nature.
An international team of scientists from the United States, Panama, Brazil, Europe and Australia, led by Christopher Doughty, states that the leaves of tropical forests “overheat and stop participating in photosynthesis” after an excessive increase in air temperature . And this, the scientists emphasize, is the most unfavorable scenario that awaits the Earth in the current millennium. These conclusions were reached after studying the forests of Brazil, Puerto Rico, Panama and Australia.
Measurements showed that now during the day the crown of the trees warms up on average to 34 degrees and only in some cases up to 40 degrees.
However, not all scientists believe that rising temperatures will stop photosynthesis. Most experts believe that global warming in general will have a beneficial effect on plants.
Remember that photosynthesis is the process of converting light energy into chlorophyll, which promotes the release of oxygen.
