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FOREST CARBON STORAGE DIMINISHING (538 words) |
 | Scientists have found that forests are now absorbing about 100 of the 1,300 "teragrams" of carbon emitted each year by fossil fuels and other sources in the United States. |
| However, in a second report they concluded that increasing forest harvests, a decreasing forest land base and a reduction in average stand age could reduce the carbon "sequestration" ability of these forests to about a break-even point, or carbon equilibrium within 25 years. |
| A single teragram represents one million metric tons of carbon, which in forms such as carbon dioxide is a key element of the greenhouse effect. |
| RICE Highlights (1374 words) |
| The total annual global source strength of atmospheric methane, an important greenhouse gas, is estimated to be 500 teragrams, with anthropogenic sources accounting for 340 teragrams. |
| With an estimated sink strength of 460 teragrams per year, the annual increase of atmospheric methane is 40 teragrams. |
| Methane emissions from flooded rice cultivation is currently estimated to be 60 teragrams per year; among the highest sources worldwide. |
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