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September 6, 2008 9:49:59 PM CDT

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Katrina Death Toll: 320M Trees

Posted Nov 16, 07 12:53 PM CST in US,  Science & Health 

(Newser) – Hurricane Katrina killed 320 million trees in Mississippi and Louisiana, and the die-off is affecting the atmosphere as well as the landscape. Decaying trees will release about 367 million tons of carbon dioxide, equal to the amount released in a whole season of US forest fires, the LA Times reports. "In some areas, it was 100% damage," says one expert.

A new analysis of satellite photos reveals that most of the lost trees were 70 to 100 feet tall. Amidst swaths of decomposing trees are small new trees that will stay vulnerable for some time. "If we have significant fires, all of those young trees are going to be toast," says the head of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Source Los Angeles Times

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The carbon released from the rotting trees will be significant.   (Getty Images)
These crepe myrtle saplings planted this year have been used to replace water oak and magnolia trees that were killed during Hurricane Katrina in fron of the New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park of...   (Associated Press)
Katrina destroyed 320 million trees.   (Getty Images)
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climate change  • Hurricane Katrina  • New Orleans  • Louisiana  • Mississippi  • deforestation  • Gulf Coast  • carbon


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