Contrasting carbon cycle responses in Amazon forests: lessons from extreme weather events

The Research: A comprehensive study examined the Amazon rainforest’s carbon cycle during two contrasting weather events: the 2015-2016 El Niño drought and the 2008-2009 La Niña wet period. Utilizing over two decades of data from the Tapajós National Forest in Brazil, the research highlighted how these extreme conditions impacted forest structure and function.

Key Findings: During La Niña, increased cloudiness led to reduced photosynthesis and a net carbon loss, despite normal respiration levels. Conversely, the El Niño drought caused significant reductions in photosynthesis due to drought-induced leaf loss but resulted in net carbon gains as respiration rates dropped even further. Notably, the forest exhibited quick recovery post-La Niña, whereas the El Niño drought had prolonged impacts, with forest structure and function taking over three years to normalize.

Real-World Implications: Understanding these responses is crucial as climate change is expected to increase the frequency of such extreme weather events. The findings suggest that Amazonian forests are more vulnerable to droughts than to periods of excessive rainfall. This knowledge can inform conservation strategies and climate models, aiding in the prediction and mitigation of climate change impacts on tropical forests.

For further details, please refer to the original study published in Agricultural and Forest Meteorology.

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