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Amazon rainforest destruction threatens South American water cycles
Scientists warn that the destruction of the Amazon rainforest is threatening the vital hydrological infrastructure of South America. The forest acts as a massive rain machine through a process where trees absorb groundwater and release it into the atmosphere as vapor, creating what researchers call ‘flying rivers’ that transport moisture across the continent.
Researchers Julia Valentim Tavares and Marielos Peñaclaros, representing the Scientific Panel for the Amazon, note that a single adult tree can release 200 to 300 liters of water daily. However, activities such as mining, drug trafficking, deforestation, and fires are disrupting the biome's connectivity. This degradation is already reducing rainfall in Brazil and Bolivia and causing rising temperatures and longer droughts.
The consequences of this disruption are already being felt beyond the Amazon region. The 2024 drought, intensified by El Niño, affected 88% of the basin and led to water shortages in Bogotá, Colombia, and power outages in Quito, Ecuador. Experts warn that if the forest reaches a tipping point, it could shift from a carbon sink to a carbon emitter, further accelerating global warming.
Entities
Amazon rainforest · Julia Valentim Tavares · Marielos Peñaclaros · Scientific Panel for the Amazon
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] In 2024, the worst drought in the biome's history affected 88% of the basin due to El Niño. www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · ubirataonline.com.br
- [● 9 SOURCES] A single adult tree in the Amazon can release between 200 and 300 liters of water into the atmosphere daily. www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · ejornais.com.br · overbo.com.br · paraibainforma.com.br · sidneysilva.com.br · +4 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] Deforestation in the Amazon is reducing rainfall volumes in parts of Brazil and Bolivia. www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · ubirataonline.com.br
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The drought caused water shortages in Bogotá, Colombia, and power outages in Quito, Ecuador. www.brasilemfolhas.com.br
- [● 9 SOURCES] The Amazon serves as South America's primary water infrastructure and the world's largest rain machine. www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · ejornais.com.br · overbo.com.br · paraibainforma.com.br · sidneysilva.com.br · +4 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The combination of droughts and fires could cause the forest to emit carbon instead of absorbing it. www.brasilemfolhas.com.br
- [● 9 SOURCES] Mining, drug trafficking, deforestation, and fires are compromising the connectivity of the Amazon biome. www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · ejornais.com.br · overbo.com.br · paraibainforma.com.br · sidneysilva.com.br · +4 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A strong El Niño is predicted to persist until February 2027. www.brasilemfolhas.com.br