Discussion: Trees Don't Make Oxygen!
Saturday September 15, 2007
" I hit your website accidentally, but quickly realized that there was a handy bit of knowledge missing from your "Top 10 Reasons Why Trees Are Valuable and Important" page at About.com You may not know that trees don't actually "produce" any oxygen. You mentioned that trees are "carbon sinks" and that trees use CO2 but you failed to inform people that trees merely separate the C from the O in CO2 (photosynthesis) which releases oxygen but does not make it..." - JA
Top 10 Reasons Why Trees Are Valuable and Important
Photo by Placodus/Germany - Forestry Forum Image
Comments
Furthermore, As said tree dies and decomposes (oxidation) or burns (oxidation) the carbon in the wood re-combines with the available oxygen in the air, which makes CO2 again. There is no net gain of oxygen over the total existence of a tree.
Actually, the process of photosynthesis separates the H from water to release O2. The oxygen does not come from carbon dioxide. Any intro biology book should have this. An easy to reach source is Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photosynthesis#Oxygen_and_photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a very complex process, as the little books I’ve read that are about the details informed me. The idea we should all be concentrating on is that getting plants to grow in as many spots as possible, is important. We too often pave ground that could produce chlorophyllous growth. We could also help children to notice the natural world by tucking green plants into corners that are neglected. We could also teach manners by pointing out how some invasives won’t share living space.
JA SHOULD RESEARCH BEFORE MAKING MORE INACCURATE COMMENTS.
Its true - trees don’t make oxygen, in the same way that petrol doesnt make energy, or hydrogen isnt an energy source in itself. But trees do make oxygen, as far as - without their presence it would not exist in the form that we would refer to it being oxygen that we associate with breathing. Therefore, I would be tempted to accept “make oxygen” as a definition, so long as it says what it needs to - which i think it does (it makes its point). I think the use of pond weed and green algue should be investigated, since these can exist in water based medium. Why not put co exhaust and consentrate light through their water to increase photosynthesis. the its harder to maximize the enviroment of a tree, but they do look really nice - we need more in the city, thats why i dont live in the city!
actually trees take in carbon dioxide to live and release oxygen i know that and im only 15 -.-