Climate change may help California redwoods thrive

California’s beloved giant trees could be weathering climate change – and it might even help them thrive.

The Los Angeles Times says researchers have found that since the 1970s, some coast redwoods have grown at their fastest rate ever. Giant sequoias also are showing growth spurts.

That’s based on corings taken from dozens of trees at least 1,000 years old.

Humboldt State forestry professor Stephen Sillett says it’s unclear what’s prompted the growth spurts.

It could be that rising temperatures have lengthened the growing season or that the redwoods are getting more sun. Or it could be something more mundane, such as a reduction in air pollution.

Whatever the reason, Sillett says that when it comes to climate change, he thinks redwoods will hold their own.