The Amazon region is a global hotspot of biodiversity and plays a key role in the climate system because of its ability to store large amounts of carbon and its influence on the global water cycle. The rain forest is threatened, however, by climate change as well as by intensified deforestation activities.
An international team has now investigated how a change in Atlantic circulation would impact the Amazon Rain Forest.
Among the global tipping points are the Amazon rainforest and the large-scale Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation . Further warming of the planet can lead to a significant weakening of the AMOC. This would slow down the conveyor belt that transports warm water to the northern regions, drastically changing the temperature distribution in the Atlantic.
Further studies employing climate and vegetation models indicate that a weakening of the AMOC under present-day conditions would have an effect on Amazon vegetation similar to that which it had during the past ice age."The models have shown us that the AMOC need not completely collapse in order to have an effect on the rainforest. The northern areas of the Amazon region are massively impacted under mere moderate changes in the AMOC," explains Dr. Matthias Prange of MARUM.
Africa's forested areas -- an estimated 14 % of the global forest area -- are continuing to decline at an increasing rate -- mostly because of human activities to convert forest land for ...
Global Warming Geography Environmental Issues Environmental Awareness Earth Science Ice Ages Ecology
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Amazon Big Deal Days competitor sales that are just as good if not better than AmazonAmazon isn't the only shop with deals on Big Deal Days. Check out these retailers that are slashing prices with their own summer sales including a 98-inch television for under $1500!
Read more »
Amazon Big Deal Days competitor sales that are just as good if not better than AmazonAmazon isn't the only shop with deals on Big Deal Days. Check out these retailers that are slashing prices with their own summer sales including a 98-inch television for under $1500!
Read more »
Amazon Big Deal Days competitor sales that are just as good if not better than AmazonAmazon isn't the only shop with deals on Big Deal Days. Check out these retailers that are slashing prices with their own summer sales including a 98-inch television for under $1500!
Read more »
Amazon Big Deal Days competitor sales that are just as good if not better than AmazonAmazon isn't the only shop with deals on Big Deal Days. Check out these retailers that are slashing prices with their own summer sales including a 98-inch television for under $1500!
Read more »
Amazon Big Deal Days competitor sales that are just as good if not better than AmazonAmazon isn't the only shop with deals on Big Deal Days. Check out these retailers that are slashing prices with their own summer sales including a 98-inch television for under $1500!
Read more »
Cleveland Clinic, Amazon One Medical partner to open Amazon health office in NE OhioAmazon One Medical — part of Amazon’s push to enter the healthcare field — will be opening an office in Northeast Ohio
Read more »