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Record-Breaking 60-Meter Wide Tree Discovered in the Amazon

A 60-meter wide tree, discovered in the Amazon rainforest using a new model by Fabien Wagner, surpasses other trees by at least 5 meters in diameter, highlighting potential for carbon sequestration and conservation.

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OtherScienceBiodiversityDeforestationAmazon RainforestCarbon SequestrationLargest TreeTree CrownFabien WagnerCtrees

CtreesNasa Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Fabien Wagner

What is the significance of discovering a 60-meter wide tree in the Amazon rainforest?: A giant tree with a crown spanning 60 meters, equivalent to five city buses or two blue whales, has been discovered in the Amazon rainforest by tropical forest biologist Fabien Wagner. Its diameter surpasses that of neighboring trees by at least 5 meters. This discovery highlights the potential of Wagner's model for mapping the Amazon canopy to identify trees with high carbon sequestration capacity.
How did Fabien Wagner's model contribute to the discovery of this exceptionally large tree?: Wagner, utilizing satellite imagery and a novel model, pinpointed this exceptionally large tree. The model's accuracy was verified using high-resolution Google Earth Pro images, confirming a diameter of nearly 62 meters. This finding underscores the model's effectiveness in identifying trees crucial for carbon storage.
What are the potential implications of identifying and protecting the largest trees in the Amazon for carbon sequestration and forest conservation?: The discovery suggests two distinct growth strategies among Amazonian trees leading to high biomass: either significant height or expansive crowns. Further research is needed to determine which strategy yields the highest overall biomass. The tree's location is undisclosed to protect it from illegal logging.

Cognitive Concepts

1/5

Framing Bias

The framing is largely neutral and focuses on the scientific discovery. The emphasis is on the methodology used to find the tree and the implications for carbon sequestration and conservation. The use of comparisons (city buses, blue whales) helps to convey the scale of the discovery to the reader without being overly sensationalized.

1/5

Language Bias

The language used is largely neutral and descriptive. Words like "kampioen" (champion) and "uitschieter" (outlier) are used, but within the context of scientific measurement and comparison, they do not appear to be loaded or biased.

Sustainable Development Goals

Climate Action Positive

Direct Relevance

The discovery and monitoring of large trees with significant carbon sequestration potential in the Amazon rainforest directly contributes to climate change mitigation efforts by highlighting the importance of preserving these vital carbon sinks. Protecting these trees helps maintain the rainforest

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