Tropical rainforests could turn carbon emitters instead of sinks if temperatures stay high

Tropical rainforests, particularly giant Amazon, are at risk due to increasing global temperatures. tropical rainforests with an important ability to store carbon are under threat and immediate steps need to be taken to conserve forests and stabilise global climate, researchers said.

According to a study based on research from 600 sites around world, daily temperature beyond 32.2C makes trees get too hot and dry, causing m to die and release ir stores of carbon. scientists explained that as temperature rises, trees may close pores in ir leaves to save water, and this also prevents m from taking in more carbon. When trees die, y release ir stored carbon back into atmosphere.

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During this study, researchers measured ability of tropical forests in different sites to store carbon as tropical forests hold about 40 per cent of all carbon stored by land plants.

Tropical forests grow across a wide range of climate conditions. During study, all forests from tropics were examined to evaluate ir resilience and responses to changes in global temperatures. This study has a unique approach of exploring  implications of rmal conditions currently experienced by all tropical forests said Stuart Davies, director of  Smithsonian‘s Forest Global Earth Observatories, a worldwide network of 70 forest study sites in 27 countries.

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Ar research team, led by Martin Sullivan from University of Leeds and Manchester Metropolitan University, found major differences in amount of carbon stored by tropical forests in South America, Africa, Asia and Australia.

As per research findings South American forests store less carbon than forests in Africa, Asia and Europe. This is because of evolutionary differences in tree species growing re.

researchers predicted that as temperatures reach 32.2C, carbon is released much faster. Trees can apparently cope with increases in minimum nighttime temperature, but t with increases in maximum daytime temperature.

y also predict South American forests will be most affected by global warming because temperatures re are alrey higher than on or continents and projections for future warming are also highest for this region.

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 study highlights importance of protecting tropical forests and stabilizing Earth’s climate. One important tool will be to find vel ways to restore degred land, like planting tree species that help make tropical forests more resilient to realities of 21st century, said Jefferson Hall, co-author and director of Smithsonian’s Agua Salud project in Panama.

Ar international group of acemics warned in March that world’s remaining undisturbed tropical forests may have alrey begun to switch from being a major carbon sinks, to eventually becoming an overall source of carbon. researchers warned impact on greenhouse gases in atmosphere could be devastating, if carbon sequestration is t continued.

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