A new study in the magazine “Science” shows that the climate change is significantly affecting the length of the rainforests dry season.
Current climate change and global warming has already changed up to 20% of the world’s rainforests natural composition. In the worst case scenario, 85% of the world’s rainforests could be affected.
Current climate change and global warming has already changed up to 20% of the world’s rainforests natural composition. In the worst case scenario, 85% of the world’s rainforests could be affected.
The “normal” rainy season is followed by a period of dry weather, and as the length of the dry season is increasing more and more trees are dying.
Rainforests absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while growing but this is released back into the atmosphere when the trees die and rot. 
The lengthy dry season of 2005 caused the death of huge number of trees releasing over 5 billion tons of carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. By 2100, with a rise of just 1ºC to 2ºC the Amazon forest would lose 20% to 40% of its entire surface area, with a rise of 4ºC the remaining living rainforest would be the equivalent of just 15% of its current size. A temperature rise of 2ºC to 6ºC during the dry season would result in a loss of up to 18% of the rainforest!
Climate change is a major worldwide concern and tropical rainforests are a key player in controlling or at least attenuating it. The Amazon rainforest will require 50 years to recover from the effects of the 2005 dry season.
The lengthy dry season of 2005 caused the death of huge number of trees releasing over 5 billion tons of carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. By 2100, with a rise of just 1ºC to 2ºC the Amazon forest would lose 20% to 40% of its entire surface area, with a rise of 4ºC the remaining living rainforest would be the equivalent of just 15% of its current size. A temperature rise of 2ºC to 6ºC during the dry season would result in a loss of up to 18% of the rainforest!
Climate change is a major worldwide concern and tropical rainforests are a key player in controlling or at least attenuating it. The Amazon rainforest will require 50 years to recover from the effects of the 2005 dry season.
Loss of the rainforest is primarily due to deforestation for agriculture – grazing pastures and crops .
Unfortunately the problem of climate change is a vicious circle as more and more carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere the rainforest endures longer and harsher dry seasons which kill more trees and those rotting trees release even more carbon dioxide.
The answer, reduction in deforestation of Natural Rainforests which act as a carbon sink, sustainable forestry and a reduction in emissions of green house gases from industry, transport and agriculture.
Easier said than done and global initiatives are required.
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