Boreal forests shade northern permafrost so effectively that summer snowmelt remains shallow, about a meter; researchers estimate their canopies freeze 59 billion tons of carbon
Spruce and birch trees lean along the edge of Stevens Pond on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus on September 18, 2022. The dense green canopy of northern forests acts like a giant sunshade, keeping the permafrost cool enough to safely store 59 billion tons of carbon underground.This finding suggests that forest canopies reduce summer … Read more
