Individual Emissions Calculator

Carbon Dioxide Emissions Balanced by the Sequestration of Mature Sugar Maples

Sugar Maples per month

0 trees

Trees naturally remove carbon from the environment (this process is called sequestration). Through sequestration, trees help offset greenhouse gas emissions. Sugar maples can sequester 1.75 pounds of carbon per month!

You are responsible for emitting 0 pounds of CO2 per month through travel. Therefore, it would take 0 mature sugar maples to sequester your emissions.

Methodology:

Atomic Weight of C = 12
Atomic Weight of O = 16
Atomic Weight of O = 16
Atomic Weight of CO2 = 44

12 [C]/44 [CO2] = 27% of the weight of CO2 is carbon

Your Monthly CO2 Emissions / 1.75 pounds of carbon sequestered per month

X 0.27 = ANSWER (since 27% of CO2 is carbon and we are only accounting for carbon in this equation of sequestration)

It is important to note that the size of a tree is more important than its age in estimating its carbon storage capacity. Using a statistical formula provided by the USDA Forest Service, a sugar maple’s average diameter growth rate is 0.15 inches per year (typical of forest stands). After 100 years, a sugar maple’s average diameter would be about 16 inches, assuming a one-inch tree was planted. The carbon storage capacity of a sugar maple with this diameter is about 0.63 tons, or 1,260 pounds of carbon1, and is able to sequester 21 pounds of carbon per year2.
  1. Nowak, D. (1994) “Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Reduction by Chicago’s Urban Forest” in McPherson, E., Nowak, D., and Rowntree, R. Chicago’s Urban Forest Ecosystem: Results of the Chicago Urban Forest Climate Project: USDA Forest Service.
  2. Nowak, D. (17 July 2002) Personal communication via electronic mail.
 
Back