How Does Carbon Dioxide Affect Plants?

Growth Retardation

• A study conducted in 2002 by Stanford University has prompted researchers to rethink the idea of global warming. Findings suggest that increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, when combined with higher temperatures and increased precipitation or nitrogen presence in the soil, stunts the growth of plants. Plants regulate the emissions of fossil fuels by filtering the amount of CO2 in the air. If the growth of plants is inhibited, we are losing natural pollution regulators.

Decreased Evaporation

• Plants emit water from the pores in their leaves. Just as sweating cools our bodies, this transpiration cools the plant. High levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide cause a plant's pores to shrink, decreasing the rate of water being released. Ken Caldeira of Carnegie Institute's Department of Global Ecology states that this phenomenon greatly affects evaporative cooling and air temperature regulation.

Failure to Sprout

• Not only does increased carbon dioxide retard plant growth, but it also inhibits plants' ability to sprout. In a study conducted at the University of California in 2007, seeds exposed to high levels of CO2 failed to sprout. Failure to sprout decreases the amount of plant life available, once again directly hindering our ecosystem's natural filtration process.

Global Warming

• The negative effects of carbon dioxide on plants initiate a vicious cycle. By stunting plant growth, decreasing evaporation potential and blocking sprouting capabilities, carbon dioxide wreaks havoc on both plants and our earth. As pollution increases and the ability of plants to thrive decreases, our world continues to get warmer. Many researchers believe that elevated temperatures, combined with the above factors, will lead us to a path of destruction.