Amazon rainforest needs rain

by ARTiFactor on Jul. 29th, 2006
in The Water Cycle, Weather and Climate

comments

Amazon Rainforest: Rainforest could become desert. photo from NASA

Amazon rainforest could become a desert

And that could speed up global warming with 'incalculable consequences', says alarming new research. Studies by the blue-chip Woods Hole Research Centre, carried out in Amazonia, have concluded that the forest cannot withstand more than two consecutive years of drought without breaking down. And that process, which would be irreversible, could begin as early as next year.

The Amazon rainforest is huge

For those who'd like some perspective, the Amazon rainforest represents half the rainforests in the world. It encompasses 1.2 billion acres, or 1.875 million square miles. That's 3.25% of the planets land mass. That’s a huge chunk of land. So if this report is accurate, it’s far from being insignificant.
The Amazon now appears to be entering its second successive year of drought, raising the possibility that it could start dying next year. The immense forest contains 90 billion tons of carbon, enough in itself to increase the rate of global warming by 50 per cent.
Read more from The Independent (U.K.), July 23, 2006

Your Comments, Thoughts, Questions, Ideas

Jeff says:

We need to stop global warming now at all costs. I propose a world wide fund where all rich people donate to this fund. Since they became rich thru taking from others, its right they give back. Much of the world's wealth is tied up in the hands of some (rich people). Use the fund to pull together the best brains / scientists in the world together to brainstorm a solution.
If nothing drastic is done, there wont be a world left for rich (and poor) people to enjoy.

posted on Sun, 07/30/2006 - 12:39am

Anonymous says:

how much rain appear a year in the amazon

posted on Wed, 01/17/2007 - 7:02am

ARTiFactor says:

The Amazon gets nine feet of rain every year!
How much rain do you get where you live? Click to find out.

posted on Sat, 01/20/2007 - 5:01pm

Anonymous says:

Does anyone know if there are any invasive species in the Amazon Rainforest, and where we could find an article written on that, online?

posted on Thu, 02/15/2007 - 6:31pm

ARTiFactor says:

If I were to pick an invasive species having a huge impact on the Amazon Rainforest ecosystem, I would choose human beings. Our slash and burn techniques and other deforestation impact can be seen from outer space.

posted on Fri, 02/16/2007 - 10:45am

Anonymous says:

I agree, humans are cutting down the rain forest. What could be more invasive than that?

posted on Fri, 02/16/2007 - 12:38pm

Anonymous says:

I think that cutting down the rainforest is a bad idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

posted on Mon, 02/26/2007 - 6:19pm

Doing an Amazon Project says:

i am doing a project on the amazon and i really need to know quickly what are the human impacts and management on the amazon rainforest????

thank you!

posted on Tue, 03/20/2007 - 3:52am

ARTiFactor says:

An easy way to find both information and other reference links is to look up "Amazon rainforest" at Wikipedia.

posted on Tue, 03/20/2007 - 11:50am

Anonymous says:

this was really cool thanks!!!

posted on Tue, 03/20/2007 - 12:19pm

Tyler Lindberg says:

I would really like to know if the Amazon Rainforest is back to normal now. Has the rainfall increased? Has the drought been alleviated? I would really like to know if it is still on a major track to a drought, and possibly a worldwide environmental crisis even worse than we have now. Please respond with full facts.

posted on Fri, 03/23/2007 - 3:54pm

JENNY says:

DOES CUTTING DOWN THE AMAZON RAINFOREST AFFECT US?

posted on Thu, 03/29/2007 - 2:27pm

Anonymous says:

yes because the rain forests give us air da

posted on Fri, 01/30/2009 - 1:45pm

Anonymous says:

what will happen if the rain forest gets all cut down???

posted on Thu, 03/29/2007 - 3:29pm

Anonymous says:

lots of animals will become extinct like tigers, gorrillas, andacondas, anteaters, and many more animales will become extinct i'm just telling u what will happen first u dont want to know what comes next.

posted on Fri, 01/30/2009 - 1:50pm

sandra says:

dude dude dude dude why does the rainforest need rain i mean that does not make any sence......nvm

posted on Tue, 04/17/2007 - 3:49pm

Anonymous says:

What are some invasive species in the Amazon Rainforest? need to know!!!!
-thanks!

posted on Thu, 05/03/2007 - 2:00pm

james says:

who is cutting it down and why?

posted on Mon, 05/14/2007 - 2:51am

Anonymous says:

I want to stop global warming as soon as possible! Who would want to hurt our environment by cutting our precious forests!? One day i want to travel and see the world and if so i want to see beauty not flat land with noting there! I will do whatever it takes! This article is good it helped me on my project which im doing now.
-I LOVE THIS ARTICLE!:D

posted on Mon, 05/28/2007 - 5:33pm

Anonymous says:

WHAT IT WON'T DO US ANY HARM ALL THESE MAD POEPLE WHO THINK IT WILL ARE MENTAL

posted on Mon, 10/01/2007 - 1:10pm

Anonymous says:

who is chopping down the trees (groups e.c.t)

posted on Tue, 01/08/2008 - 2:51pm

Betoulllll says:

Ughh, What are some pros of cutting down the rainforest. Its ferr my school project. I think we should just cut everything down.

posted on Mon, 01/14/2008 - 11:12am

Anonymous says:

Help!
how does cutting this down impact us, the world, U.S.? I also need statictical data!
i am doing a project and need to know.If you don't know can you tell me where to find it?
thanks alot!

posted on Sat, 03/29/2008 - 1:32pm

ARTiFactor says:

I would check the external links (at the bottom) on the Wikipedia entry on the Amazon Rainforest.

posted on Sun, 03/30/2008 - 9:16am

Anonymous says:

NEVER GO TO WIKIPEDIA!!! anyone can change any information they want to change. i know someone who made up a page on the swiss canadian war, and there was no war about it and it was posted for 2 weeks

posted on Sun, 03/30/2008 - 1:35pm

bryan kennedy says:

While this is true, the vast majority of information on Wikipedia IS factual and correct. Made up and spurious information is often fixed within moments, although there are always going to be outliers. As a matter of fact an article in Nature showed that overall, WIkipedia was almost as accurate as the professionally authored Encyclopedia Britannica. But, you have the right sentiment. You should research your questions from multiple sources and always try to get another opinion.

posted on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 1:52pm

Anonymous says:

YEah ArtiFactor, I have a questioin. Could you please tell me all the things that happen in the Amazon rain forest that have an affect on us? And how? and is it good or bad? Thank you! Write back as quickly as possible!

posted on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 12:29pm

ARTiFactor says:

The Amazon Rain Forest is big and has a lot of green vegetation. This is important to the world's climate. If sunlight hits green plants it results in release of oxygen (we need oxygen to live) and evaporation of water (which results in cooling). If sunlight hits brown dirt it results in heat and no evaporated moisture. This dry air can result in more plants drying out which makes air dryer resulting in a "snow ball effect" of plants dying due to drought.
The amount of plants involved is enormous - covering an area almost 8 times bigger than Texas.
I hope you have clicked on the sources of information in the comments above for more information (They are colored red).

posted on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 11:53am

Anonymous says:

you need to save the Amazon rainforest because everyone loves it in this place xxxxxxxxxxxx

posted on Thu, 05/21/2009 - 9:19am

Amazon Project says:

I'm doing a project on the amazon and I know that humans are an invasive species in the amazon but are their any others? Please reply soon!

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