The Amazon rainforest, often referred to as the "Lungs of the Earth" due to its immense carbon-absorbing capacity, plays a crucial role in regulating global atmospheric conditions and climate. However, a new study from the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that these "lungs" may soon turn into "dry lungs."
The analysis indicates that by 2100, under persistently rising global carbon emissions, the Amazon rainforest could transition into an unprecedented climate state known as "hyper-tropical climate." This shift would bring longer dry seasons and more severe droughts—conditions not seen on Earth for tens of millions of years.
Once this threshold is crossed, tree mortality rates could skyrocket from the current 1% to 55%, including ancient trees over 1,000 years old. Such devastation would drastically reduce the rainforest's ability to absorb carbon from the atmosphere.
Scientists warn that the current trend of extreme heat and drought signals the impending arrival of this new climate regime. However, they emphasize that human efforts to reduce emissions could significantly mitigate or even reverse this process, ensuring the planet remains habitable for future generations.
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