Amazon Wildfires Are Generating Ozone that Weakens Surviving Trees' Carbon Uptake

Amazon wildfires are generating ozone that weakens surviving trees' carbon uptake

Ozone pollution caused by Amazon wildfires is significantly reducing the rainforest's ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, new research reveals. Ground-level ozone is formed when pollutants from sources such as wildfires react in the presence of sunlight. This harms human health and interferes with plants' ability to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.

Environmental News Network - Wildfire Ozone Pollution Weakening Amazon’s Ability to Absorb Carbon

Soils are warming quickly and at considerable depth across Alaska, with temperatures rising fastest in the state’s permafrost region, a trend that could accelerate climate change and undermine the stability of roads, buildings and other infrastructure built on the continuously frozen ground.

Compounding Climate Impacts Drive Tropical Forest Decline

Extreme heat, drought and ozone from fire emissions are devastating the Amazon and other rainforests, new research shows. By Bob Berwyn Ozone pollution from fires, along with extreme heat and drought, is further weakening the Amazon rainforest's ability to absorb carbon dioxide, new research shows.

Wildfire ozone pollution weakening Amazon's ability to absorb carbon

New research shows ozone pollution from Amazon wildfires cuts the rainforest's carbon uptake by an amount equivalent to about a quarter of the carbon the fires release.