Oak forests may store less carbon in wood than climate models assume, a Columbia-led study of 137 US sites finds, as photosynthesis outlasts woody growth.

eastern US, California

Who

Mukund Palat Rao, Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

What

When

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:45:54 GMT · 2h 46m ago

Where

eastern US, California ·

Why

Photosynthesis continues for months after woody growth has stopped in oak trees, meaning not all carbon absorbed is stored in wood.

The Frontline Impact

How this affects you

This finding suggests that global climate models may overestimate the amount of carbon stored by forests, indicating a potentially larger climate change challenge from continued emissions.

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Verified Sources & Citations

Wood Central
https://woodcentral.com.au/oak-forests-carbon-storage-models/
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