„Pădurile-fantomă”. Cercetătorii au turnat 300.000 de litri de apă sărată într-o pădure. Schimbările au început acolo unde nimeni nu le vedea

American researchers conducted an experiment in Maryland, pouring 300,000 liters of saltwater into a forest to study the impact of rising sea levels on coastal forests. The TEMPEST project, initiated in 2022, aimed to simulate the effects of storm surges and flooding. The forest was divided into three sections, with one receiving saltwater, another freshwater, and a control area. Initial changes were observed in the soil rather than the trees, with significant increases in soil salinity and decreased oxygen levels. While most trees showed minimal stress, the tulip tree exhibited severe effects. The long-term goal is to identify early warning signs in the soil to protect coastal forests from saltwater damage.