Environment

Amazon Rainforest could be 85% gone in 100 years

by Amy Judd | March 13, 2009 at 10:33 am

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Scientists at the Climate Change conference in Copenhagen this weekend, deliver some alarming news for the Amazon Rainforest: a rise in 4 degrees will kill off 85% of the whole forest in the next 100 years.

The fact that the temperature is rising will hurt any attemps to save the rainforest as scientists say that even if severe cuts are made to deforestation and carbon emissions, this won't be able to save the rainforest. They are calling the inevitable destruction of the forest 'irreversible'.

Vicky Pope, of the Met Office's Hadley Centre, which carried out the study, said: "The impacts of climate change on the Amazon are much worse than we thought. As temperatures rise quickly over the coming century the damage to the forest won't be obvious straight away, but we could be storing up trouble for the future."

Climate Change is what the scientists are saying will deliver the ultimate death blow.
If temperatures only rise even 2 degrees, this will still mean a 20 to 40 % death rate for the rainforest. If it rises 3 degrees it will see a 75% death rate and a 4 degrees rise will kill off 85% and the Amazon as it is seen today would be gone.
This is the first time that a long term effect has really been looked at.
This does not just affect the people living near the rainforest. These tropical areas help determine the world's weather systems and with the forest gone, it is likely that much more extreme weather will take over the planet. Instead of sucking up carbon as well, it would become a place where carbon levels in the air would be devastating.
Trees growing in higher latitudes would help offset some of the loss, but not enough to help with the widespread loss of the rainforest.
There is currently only a 50% chance of being able to keep the world temperature rise under 2 degrees unless emissions are cut so drastically but it looks like countries are not willing to conform to these cuts.

This best-case emissions scenario is based on emissions peaking in 2015 and quickly changing from an increase of 2-3% per year to a decrease of 3% per year. For every 10 years this action is delayed, the most likely temperature rise increases by 0.5C.

A 2 degrees rise may not sound like much but it will have irreversible effects to areas like the savannahs and major world ecosystems.
In the rainforest, increased temperatures will mean less rainfall will occur in that region. This leads to drought, which then will cause the roots of the trees to collapse and fall over and the forest will die and become incredibly dry. This will then make it susceptible to fire, which can destroy more forests and everything else around it.

There is currently a climate change meeting happening in Copenhagen, which is aimed to get politicians to take action to cut emissions and carbon pollution. There is also a UN summit in December in Copenhagen where a new deal will try to be reached to replace the Kyoto protocol.

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JeffHuang

at 10:51 on March 13th, 2009

Basically, there is nothing we can do now - "They are calling the inevitable destruction of the forest 'irreversible'."

Ravinwood_777

at 15:03 on March 13th, 2009

What's the big deal? your article said 80% gone bye bye in 100 years.

I'll be a ancient history in about 20 or so years, give or take a tragic accident or a heart stopping cardiac arrest. That article is so pathetic, it reminds me of that sick twisted special i had the misfortune to catch the other day called "life after people" I've seen these kind of specials before many times. the crazies in them care 0% for people and 100% for a soul-less forest of trees. I heard some fanatic on the radio awhile back. and this certifiable psychopath was hoping and praying that the human race would annihilate itself so nature could survive. this loony had the nerve to compare us to these horrible monsters, whose sole purpose is the destruction of our planet. well i don't believe in "global warming" nor shall I ever....

we didn't start the fire, it's been burning since the beginning of time.

Amy Judd

at 15:12 on March 13th, 2009

First of all, thank you for referring to my article as 'pathetic' and second of all, don't you care about anyone that will be alive one day longer even than you? That's so selfish.

joelpietersen

at 12:05 on April 20th, 2009

This is incredible - I can't believe that in light of this information that the Government is not more committed to doing something about it - please bring back the electric car!!

Amazon belongs to Brasil. Outside gringos! (not verified)

at 11:57 on April 23rd, 2009

While foreigners discuss problems of Amazonia, a Brazilian state alone, these foreign fund the destruction of forest and the international trafficking of wild animals. Most animals hunted and the timber extracted illegally in Amazonia is exported to Europe and North America where it is sold by dealers that have a large profit. Summarizing the destruction is the fault of those who purchase the products of destruction, ie shopings selling pet macaws, parrots, exotic fish, caiman, jaguar, monkeys, all from the third world countries where they are removed from the rainforest to meet foreign Avidos for exotic animals. If the governments of rich countries prohibit the sale of animals, the dealers who would not have to sell, and traffic and eventually destruction. The wood of the Amazon is also bought by foreigners and is a promising market for it. Foreigners are false and hypocritical moralists, who kill whales and finance the destruction of the environment. What they want is to take possession of the Amazon to exploit and destroy them all, as did the forests of their countries.