Will there be more Co2 in the air when more trees are present?

Question

In a science project, i tested the amount of Co2 in areas around Los Angeles. In areas with a lot of trees, there was a ton of Co2 in the air (ppm). In areas with no trees, and right next to the freeway intersection (405 and 10 freeways)...there was very little Co2 in the air. Is there any explanation or reason for this? Or are our results just wack.

Answer 1

the results are incorrect.

there's enough wind that it would take no time at all to mix things up.

Answer 2

As I lived in Orange County when I was younger, right now trees are releasing CO2 and as their leaves return to organic matter, produce even more. Come spring, new growth and these trees will again produce Oxygen for you to breath.

Today here is what we know:  many of mankind’s advancements cause earth surface to warm, destroy the ozone layer, kill off endanger species, heat cities, and in some way cause more destruction.  Blacktop (roads and parking lots), buildings, air pollution (causes lung and other diseases), deforestation, duststorms (which increase hurricanes and cyclones and cause lung diseases), fires (cause pollution, mud slides, and deforestation), refrigerants (like CFC's), solvents (including benzene destroy the ozone layer raising skin cancer rates) and plastics; cars, airplanes, ships and most electricity production (causes pollution including raised CO2 levels) are human problems we need to fix to keep life on earth sustainable!  The federal government needs to adopt a pollution surcharge to balance the field and advance new technologies. We must pay the real price of oil (petrochemicals) including global warming, cleanup and for health effects. But with that we must understand we have never seen what is now happening before. CO2 has never lead to temperature change, but temperature change has led to increases in CO2. The models have to be made as we go along with little evidence! The result is:  change is on the way, we just do not know what changes. But again adding a small amount of CO2 to the atmosphere enlarges the earths sun collection causing warming; increase water in the atmosphere and they form clouds cooling earth but causing flooding. Even natural events are warming earth and causing destruction. The sun has an increased magnetic field causing increases in earthquakes (more destruction), volcanoes (wow, great destruction), and sun spots. Lighting produces ozone near the surface (raising air pollution levels). But humans have destroyed half of the wetlands, cut down nearly half of the rain forest, and advance on the earths grasslands while advancing desertification which increases duststorms. The USA Mayor's have taken a stand and I believe are on the right track, we can have control and can have economic growth. With the peak of oil in the 1970’s, the peak of ocean fishing in the 1980’s, humans must stop procrastinating and make real changes to keep earth sustainable including in the energy debate, finance and regulation. The sun is available to produce energy, bring light to buildings and makes most of human’s fresh water. Composting is the answer to desertification. New dams are the answer to fresh water storage, energy and cooling earth by evaporation, we need many small one all over (California needs 100 by 2012 and has not even started).

President Bush has made a choice of energy (ethanol) over food and feeding the starving people around the world; this is a choice China has rejected.

Answer 3

Trees live by absorbing CO2, so there should be less in a good forest than in a desert.  Scientific measurements cannot be made reliably in L.A.  Go up Hwy 395 and get some desert readings, then cross through the Yosemite high country from Lee Vining westbound and get some readings in the forests there.  Not sure if it is good science, but is a seriously excellent vacation.  Late spring, when the passes are open.  Early summer best of all.

Answer 4

plants absorb co2 when photo synthesizing however they reverse this roll for a short time in the evening IE dark if you took the readings very very early in the morning it may explain the results but even then I don't know.The results could depend on wind movement ,temperature,time of day but the results should have been the opposite of what you got

Answer 5

trees use co2 to survive so i guess its just them needing it more than the freeway intersection but i think your results could be a bit worng.

Answer 6

i think your results look a little fishy. trees and any living thing emit CO2 when they burn glucose. trees only take CO2 in while they are photosynthesising and making glucose.

you should make sure that you take measurements at the same time so that hopefully you are removing this error.