Weird Climatological Science

At COTTonLINE we relish the discovery of unintended consequences, like increased CO2 causing increased plant growth in dry areas. Earth scientists Lixin Wang and Xuefei Lu at Indiana University report intriguing meta-analytic findings concerning atmospheric CO2. See their research summary at Science Daily. Here is the abstract:

Enhanced levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide are a likely key driver of global dryland greening, according to a new paper. After analyzing 45 studies from eight countries, researchers concluded the greening likely stems from the impact of rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide on plant water savings and consequent increases in available soil water.

Plants "eat" CO2 like candy and thrive in a greenhouse, apparently including one created by CO2. Perhaps the teeth-gnashing and doom-saying about CO2 has been overdone? Gaia has tricks up her sleeve we haven't yet dreamed of.

See the complete findings at Scientific Reports 2016; 6: 20716 DOI: 10.1038/srep 20716. Hat tips to Lucianne.com and  WattsUpWithThat for the link.