Study: Amazon Rainforest Became a Carbon Source in 2023

Amazon rainforest flipped to carbon source during 2023 extreme drought, study shows

The Amazon rainforest is of crucial importance to the Earth's ecosystem, given its capacity to store substantial amounts of carbon in its vegetation. In 2023, the region experienced unusually high temperatures, reaching 1.5°C above the 1991–2020 average, accompanied by unusual levels of atmospheric dryness from September to November. These conditions were caused by warmer water temperatures in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans that resulted in dim…

Observed shifts in regional climate linked to Amazon deforestation

Deforestation is an important driver of regional climate change in the Amazon; thus, assessments of climate impacts from deforestation can provide key insights to climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in the region. Using satellite-based observational data, here we investigated how accumulated deforestation in the Amazon may have contributed to shifting climate away from reference conditions in highly forested regions. We assessed …

Amazon rainforest turned into carbon source during the extreme drought in 2023

• The Amazon rainforest experienced unusually high temperatures and atmospheric dryness in 2023. • This was caused by higher-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, which led to reduced moisture transport from the Atlantic to South America. • Observations from the Amazon Tall Tower Observatory (ATTO) and further data revealed that the vegetation’s uptake of carbon was above average early in the year, but drastica

The Amazon flipped to a net carbon source in 2023 releasing up to 170 million tons of CO2 as extreme heat—1.5°C above the 1991–2020 average—and drought weakened vegetation uptake more than fire activity according to new Max Planck Institute research.

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