Global warming may not be damaging Earth as quickly as feared. Scientists have found that plants can soak up more carbon dioxide than previously thought.
According to researchers, climate models have failed to take into account that when carbon dioxide increases in the atmosphere, plants thrive, absorbing more CO2.
As part of the carbon cycle, plants use light to photosynthesise CO2, turning it into carbohydrate to grow and release oxygen.
Now a team at Wyoming University has found that carbon dioxide stays in leaves longer than previously thought, accelerating growth.
"The terrestrial biosphere may absorb more CO2 than previously thought," said lead author Professor Ying Sun, of Wyoming University.
The scientists said it explains why levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are not rising as quickly as models predict. The team estimated that scientists have underestimated the ability of plants to absorb carbon dioxide by as much as 16%.
The research was published in the journal PNAS.
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