If the globe warms as the result of increased CO2 won't the added plant life that emerges use the added CO2?

Question

If the earth is a closed ecosystem in which equilibrium is sought but never realized wouldn't "global warming" result in a greater abundance of plant life (e.g. algae) and thus an eventual reduction in CO2 levels then temperature?

Answer 1

It would certainly use some of the increased CO2.   We are also cutting and burning forests including rain forests faster than they regrow, however, which does not help.

Answer 2

Sure. But that's only if we let it grow.

I suspect the increase in carbon dioxide and changes observed in the weather patterns are as much of a result of our altering vegetation patterns as they are from our emissions. I was very concerned about that affecting the weather and other critical factors a couple of decades before I heard the term "global warming" or that our carbon emissions might be causing any changes. Interestingly, the charts that show carbon levels being synchronized with our industrialization match up about as well or possibly better with deforestation for agriculture.

A possible drawback to ignoring whatever we are doing to effect the environment and forcing the ecosystem to seek equilibrium with us is that it could potentially end up being similar to whatever events caused the cyclothems that are recorded in the geological records associated with high atmospheric carbon levels in prehistory. I doubt the conditions that cyclothems form in are conducive to a continuation of civilization as we know it. It would be hard to grow enough grain to feed the world in a coal swamp or on a glacier and hard to ship it to other countries when your ports are either underwater or miles inland.

Answer 3

apparently, studies show that increased CO2 will increase plant life but that plant life will be less nutritious to the animals who eat them and less able to go through photosynthesis