Redwoods, World's Tallest Tree Could Be Even Bigger Than Previously Thought

In October 2020, Science Times reported that researchers from the University College London (UCL) demonstrated the first application of laser technology to measure Redwoods' volume and biomass, the world's tallest trees.

Redwoods are among the largest trees in the world which descended from the trees during the time of dinosaurs. Using the same laser technology, UCL and the University of Washington researchers have discovered that these trees are even bigger than experts previously thought.

They measured the Redwoods in North America and confirmed that it is indeed bigger than previous measurements of the trees. But what makes them bigger?

Bigger Redwoods

According to Live Science, Redwoods could grow up to 350 feet (107 m). The tallest recorded redwood tree is named Hyperion, which grew a height of 379.7 feet (115.7 m).

These trees could have a diameter of 24 feet (7 m) and weigh 1.6 million lbs. (725,7000 kg). They have been on the planet for over 240 million years during the time of dinosaurs. Each redwood tree could live for up to 2,000 years old.

Their big size indicates the amount of carbon dioxide they have sequestered over the centuries, according to the World Economic Forum.

Scientists have been using a tape measure to measure the trunks of Redwoods but researchers from UCL and the University of Maryland have been using advanced laser technology to create 3D maps and calculate a redwood tree's total mass.

The researchers found that Redwoods maybe 30% larger than earlier measurements suggested. The authors noted that this could be possible because of the additional trunks that Redwoods could grow as they get old. This process is known as a trunk reiteration.

Accurately measuring the trees will give information about their role in the battle against climate change. The authors wrote in their study, entitled "New 3D measurements of large Redwoods for biomass and structure," trees are widely known in terms of carbon storage but their importance is in direct proportion to the difficulty of measuring them.

EcoWatch reported that the world's tallest trees were able to survive for so long because of their ability to cope with climate change, survive fires, and resist diseases.

Redwoods as Carbon Storage Champions

Researchers from Humboldt University and the University of Washington found that Redwood forests store approximately 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare. Even their bark contains more carbon than any other species.

The World Economic Forum has launched the Trillion Trees Challenge (1t.org) to inspire organizations and individuals all over the world to support reforestation through its Uplink innovation crowdsourcing platform.

ETH Zurich/Crowther Lab backs this project, showing that there is p[potential in restoring tree coverage across 2.2 billion acres of degraded land.

These efforts are in response to the increasing deforestation that has been happening worldwide. In 2019, The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) said that an equivalent of 30 soccer fields of forest cover is lost every minute due to agricultural expansion, like logging and fires.

The goal of 1t.org is to promote deforestation as these forests are critical in fighting climate change. These forests "sequester carbon, regulate global temperatures and freshwater flows, recharge groundwater, anchor fertile soil and act as flood barriers," according to 1t.org.

Check out more news and information on Trees and Climate Change in Science Times.