THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A SHORTAGE OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS CAUSED by climate change, but reserachers have just uncovered anwe one : It could be weakening Earth's ability to resist temperature rises.Plants and soil are an important "carbon sink,"which means they absorb carbon dioxide and retain it, preventing the greenhouse gas from warm-ing the planet. The science is fairly straightforward: Plants inhale carbon dioxide and convert the carbon into energy for growth and repair in the photosynthesis process. Soil obtains carbon through organic matter, such as decomposing plants, dead animals and their waste, and actually contains two to three times more carbon than the atmosphere. Together, they soak up an estimated 25 percent of the carbon dioxide that humans produce.In 2018, humans pumped more carbon dioxide into the air than ever before. But the ability of plants and soil to help save us from ourselves may be reaching a tipping point. Climate change leads to extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, which in turn cause fluctuations in soil moisture.
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