Eric Hagen, Molly Stuart,

Jill Buensuceso, Xua Vang,

Laura Kretschmar, Donna Crum

Investigation Questions

• How much CO2 does the sugar pine species use in annual growth?

• How many trees does it take to offset the amount of CO2 emitted by the average midsize car per year?

• What are the implications for climate change?

• How could climate change affect this species?

Sugar Pine Pinus lambertia

•General Description: white fir, 5 needles, large long cones•Extends from the western slope of the Cascade Range in North Central Oregon to the Sierra Pedro Matrir in Baja California•Found at 2,000- 7,500 feet in the Sierra Nevada•Grows in singles or in small groups

HypothesisWe created a hypothetical sugar pine that was

150 feet tall and with a diameter of 5 feet and calculated the carbon dioxide in tons that this tree would absorb in it's lifetime. In working through the calculations that Adam gave us, we calculated that

32.08 tons of CO2 is absorbed in an average sugar pine. This prediction would serve as a comparison to our actual data.

If an average sugar pine absorbs 32.08 tons, then it would take approximately 5 trees to offset this amount of CO2.

Here's how we came up with the prediction:

1. Using the hypothetical diameter and height, we calculated the volume in cubic feet. V = Pi (r2) H = 2945 ft3

2. Then we calculated the wet biomass (WB) in lbs = (V x 21.22) = 62,493lbs 21.22 is the density of sugar pine

3. Next we divided by 2000 to convert the WB to tons = 31.25 tons 2000 lbs = 1 ton

4. Then we determined the dry biomass (DB) in tons = 0.7 (WB) = 27.87 tons About 30% of wet biomass is H2O and 70% is C6H12O6.

5. Then we calculated the amount of carbon in the DB in tons = 0.4(DB)= 8.75 tons carbon is 40% of C6H12O6 as determined by the ratio of the atomic mass of carbon to sugar which was 72/180.

6. Next we determined the amount of CO2 in tons by setting up an equation using the ratio of the atomic mass of C to CO2 which is 12/44 = 8.75 / x (x being the CO2). We got 32.08 tons of carbon dioxide.

Carbon Emissions

Carbon Dioxide Emission Calculator

Average/medium car(21 mpg fuel economy)

travels 12,000 miles year

Total annual emissions = 6.6 tons Trees needed to offset per year = 33 trees

135,399,945 mid size cars in the US in 2006

4,468,198,185 trees needed each year

Materials:

• 100 ft measuring tape

• Clinometer

– Protractor, straw, dental floss/string, small object (washer, key, quarter) for a weight

• Yarn (optional to measure circumference of trees)

Procedure

Using IPhone level App Using Clinometer

Formulas

• D=M/V

• V= pi r2 h

• C = 2pi r

• 1 ton=2000 lbs

• 1 kg=2.2 lbs

• X tanØ =y

• Age of tree= rate of growth/r

Procedure

• We measured a 100x100 sq foot area with identified sugar pines

• We counted the sugar pines in this area• We measured the diameter of the tree at D.B.H. (Diameter

at Breast Height)• We calculated the height using a clinometer, and trig

functions (X tanØ =y)• We calculated the volume• We calculated the wet and dry mass • We extrapolated how much CO2 that tee species uses in

annual growth• (See equations)

Clinometer

• The use of a clinometer to measure tree height. A clinometer is a fairly simple instrument which is used to measure the angle of a slope. By using the principles of trigonometry, the height of tall objects can be calculated from the angles measured.

Clinometer

Procedure

Measuring Circumference Still measuring Circumference

DataSugar Pine

(Pinus

lambertiana)

Specimen

Height

(ft)

Circumfe

rence of

trunk

base

(ft)

Volume (ft3)(ft3)

pir2h

Wet Biomass(WB)= (V x

21.22)/2000(to

ns)

21.22 = wood

density of

sugar pine

Dry Biomass

(DB)=

0.7(WB)

(tons)30% of wet

biomass is H20

and 70% is

C 6H12 06

Carbon

=0.4(DB)

Carbon is

40% of

C 6H12 06

This gives us

C in tons

Carbon

dioxide

=

C/CO2=12

/44/C in

tons/x

X=CO2 in

tons

Age

of

tree

(yrs)

Average amount

of carbon

dioxide

absorbed per

year

= carbon dioxide/

age

1 236 10.9 2245 23.82 16.67 6.67 24.46 158 310 lbs

2 230 9.7 1714 18.19 12.73 5.09 18.66 140 267 lbs

3 230 9.7 1714 18.19 12.73 5.09 18.66 140 267 lbs

4 236 11.6 2538 26.93 18.85 7.54 27.65 168 329 lbs

5 234 11.1 2303 24.43 17.10 6.84 25.08 167 329 lbs

6 110 8.6 649 6.89 4.82 1.93 7.08 125 113 lbs

Data Interpretation• Average amount of CO2 that a sugar pine tree in our

sample area absorbs in its lifetime was 20.2 tons or 40,540 pounds.

• Average amount of CO2 absorbed per year was .16 tons or 320

pounds.

• In total, the 6 sugar pines in our sample area absorb a total of 1,615

pounds of CO2 each year.

• A medium-sized car that drives 12,000 miles per year, which

produces 13,200 pounds of CO2, (carbonify.com.)

• According to Carbonify 33 trees are needed to offset the 13,200

pounds of CO2 emitted from a medium-sized car.

• According to this statistic, the average tree absorbs 400 pounds of

CO2 a year, which in not too far off from our data.

Possible effects of Climate Change on Sugar Pine

• Future predictions of climate change indicate that it may not be possible to reintroduce historic fire regimes in many forests.

• Sugar Pines are not shade tolerant

• Sugar Pines rely on fires that are not too hot in order to regenerate

• Sugar Pines are already depleted due to early logging and fire suppression.

Natalie Angell & Kristen M. Waring School of Forestry,Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ

Big threat - White Pine Blister Rust (Cronartium ribicola)

Other dangers to Sugar Pine

• Big threat - White Pine Blister Rust (Cronartium ribicola) kills all ages of Sugar Pines

• Likes damp wet areas – lack of fire creates better conditions.

• Young particularly susceptible and die with 1 to 3 years

• Fewer then 10 in 100,000 trees are naturally resistant – but the best hope

USDA Forest Service - RMRS - Moscow Forestry Sciences LaboratoryLast Modified: 06/26/2010 16:02:59

Actually at 60 years

Conclusions

• How much CO2 does the sugar pine species use in annual growth?320 lbs of CO2 per year

• How many trees does it take to offset the amount of CO2 emitted by the average midsize car? 41 sugar pines

• What are the implications for climate change?

• We need to plant, and protect forests

• How could climate change affecting this species?

• Climate change is going to make it harder for the sugar pine to survive. The E.P.A. should continue to protect the sugar pine

Classroom Implications

• Students could follow this same investigation with trees on their school campus or trees in a nearby park or forest.

• Learning would involve the carbon cycle and the role of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

• The greenhouse effect

• Tree identification and research

• Measuring techniques; calculating volume, percent, and setting up ratios to solve for an unknown

• Research on car emissions

• Generating "So, now what?" questions, discussions, and proposed solutions.

• “there is a majesty and repose about them. . . more than any other tree gives beauty and distinction to the Sierran forest.”

• David Douglas, the Scottish botanist who first discovered the species, called it “the most princely of the genus,” a designation earned by the first tree he measured

Sugar Pine Pinus lambertia

John Muir