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By Matt McGrath
BBC News science reporter
Air pollution may be helping the fight against global warming by enhancing the
ability of plants to absorb carbon dioxide, scientists say.
Since the 1960s, increased levels of atmospheric pollution have enhanced plant
productivity by as much as one quarter, research has found.
In terms of carbon dioxide, this means that an extra 10% has been stored in the
soil.
The research was published in the scientific journal, Nature.
It is a common assumption that plants grow best in clear sunny weather, but
scientists say this is not always the case.
Research has shown that forests and crops can also thrive in hazy conditions
because clouds and particles in the atmosphere scatter sun light so that it
bathes more leaves.
That enhances photosynthesis, the process by which plants turn light and carbon
dioxide into food.
Global dimming
Researchers have now analysed the impact on plants of the dimmer, hazier skies
that have resulted from increases in air pollution around the world since the
1960s.
They have calculated that this so-called "global dimming" is responsible for
increasing plant productivity by as much as one quarter from 1960 to 1999.
Dr Lina Mercado from the UK's Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the lead author
of the study, said:
"This resulted in a net 10% increase in the amount of carbon stored by the land
once other effects were taken into account," she was quoted as saying by the
Press Association.
This study highlights some of the complications that arise when we try and
tackle global warming.
As the world attempts to reduce the amount of smog and particulates in the
atmosphere to improve human health, it will require even greater efforts to cut
back on carbon dioxide.
This new research shows that plants will simply not absorb as much carbon
dioxide in cleaner air conditions.
The research will also add weight to arguments about geo-engineering, the idea
of curbing global warming by adding reflective materials to the atmosphere.
US President Barack Obama's chief scientific adviser, Professor John Holdren,
recently told reporters that such ideas, once dismissed as half-baked, would
have to be seriously discussed, such was the scale of the climate challenge.