How Much CO2 Do Plants Take Out of the Atmosphere?

This is one of our favorite questions! At Krado we're working to incorporate new technology into our Leaflet sensors to measure the amount of CO2 that individual plants take out of the atmosphere so anyone using a Leaflet system will be able to contribute to climate research. This process will entail conducting thoughtfully executed experiments and we'll need the help of our community to make it happen!

Why do we want to measure CO2 reduction?

Measuring the amount of CO2 that plants take out of the atmosphere is a key part of understanding the role of plants in the global ecosystem and the health of our planet. CO2 is a greenhouse gas that plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate, and plants play a vital role in removing CO2 from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis. By understanding how much CO2 plants take out of the atmosphere, we can gain valuable insights into the ways in which plants are helping to combat climate change and improving the health of our planet.

What's needed?

Specialized equipment and techniques are needed in the experimentation process. One approach that has been taken is to use a gas chromatograph, which can detect and measure the levels of different gasses in the air. By using a gas chromatograph to measure the levels of CO2 in the air around a plant, we can determine how much CO2 the plant is removing from the atmosphere. Another method is to use a mass spectrometer, which can measure the mass and concentration of different molecules in a sample. By analyzing the composition of the air around a plant, a mass spectrometer can detect the amount of CO2 that the plant is taking out of the atmosphere.

To get accurate results when experimenting, it is important to control for factors that can affect the amount of CO2 that a plant removes from the atmosphere, such as the amount of light and water available to the plant. This can be done by conducting experiments in a controlled environment, such as a greenhouse or laboratory, where these variables can be carefully monitored and controlled. We perform experiments like this as we develop Leaflet and love seeing others do the same! Measuring the amount of CO2 that plants take out of the atmosphere is a complex task but we know it can be done and we aim to make it simpler.