A study conducted with the participation of a Brazilian researcher shows that an increase in temperature in the canopy of tropical forest trees can lead to the death of leaves.
Deforestation is not the only challenge the Amazon will face in the coming years. A Climate change is already affecting the ability of trees to carry out photosynthesisdamaging energy production and carbon fixation in the atmosphere, this is what a study conducted by experts from different countries, with the participation of researchers from the University of São Paulo, states.
Climate change is bringing Amazonian trees to a critical point, which could cause their leaves to die
among the treetops (Photo: Getty Images)
The analysis, conducted jointly by several scholars over a period of 20 years, was published in the renowned scientific journal Nature and underlines, with great concern, that global warming is causing the temperature of the crowns of tropical forest trees from a critical point.
Humberto Ribeiro da Rocha, professor at the USP Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences (IAG), explains that photosynthesis in tropical forest trees reaches maximum production between 24ºC and 28ºC.
In the study, the researchers measured the average temperature of trees in the Amazon and found that they were above average by 34ºC and, in the cup, they came to approaching 40ºC.
Climate change and changes in precipitation patterns
That The increase in temperature causes changes in the structure of the leaves and interferes with their natural functioning, compromising the ability to carry out gaseous exchanges with the environment and transpiration. Persistent heat eventually leads to leaf death. For the professor, the reaction to this warming on an ecosystem scale will be much more complex and impossible to predict.
You the researchers warn that the increase in the temperature of the trees is greater than that recorded in the air. Consequently, an increase in the planet’s climate of between 2°C and 3°C can increase leaf temperatures by up to 8°C and lead to a total collapse of forests.
The risk of rising temperatures on trees adds to other warnings about the consequences of climate change for the Amazon, such as transformation of precipitation regimes and transition to a drier regional climate.
This October, the region is facing a historic drought, with large waterways giving way to huge sandbars. On October 10, the city of Manaus broke another historic high temperature record, with thermometers reaching 40.0ºCthe hottest day since 1910, when the National Institute of Meteorology began regular weather measurements in the Amazon capital.
“Trees are an essential part of our planet’s response to climate change tropical flowers play a vital role in hosting species diversity and regulate the planet’s climate. If they are damaged by rising temperatures, we will lose an important line of defense and limit nature’s ability to mitigate the impacts of human activities,” says Dr Sophie Fauset, professor of terrestrial ecology at the University of Plymouth, who also attended the event.studio.
The research “Tropical forests are approaching critical temperature thresholds” was conducted in tropical forests of the Amazon, Africa and Asia, combining high-resolution satellite data with field analyses. The study was led by Professor Chris Doughty, of Northern Arizona University, and, in addition to the participation of USP scientists, had the contribution of researchers from France, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
