Unexpected Amazon hotspot: Central north faces fastest rise in extreme heat and water stress
The central north Amazon, with extensive areas of high forest cover, natural savannas and vast, important Indigenous territories, was not previously considered the area most affected by climate change.
The central north region of the Amazon has unexpectedly emerged as a hotspot for rapid climate change, according to a new study. Previously overlooked, this area, known for its extensive forests, savannas, and Indigenous territories, is now at the forefront of extreme heat and water stress growth. The region, which spans over 700,000 square kilometers (270,000 square miles), has witnessed a decade-long increase in extreme dry-season temperatures of at least 0.75°C and a 3.22°C rise since 1981.
While global temperature increases are steady at 0.21°C per decade, the Amazon's extremes are worsening at a much faster rate. The study, led by Lancaster University and an international team of scientists, highlights the Amazon's changing climate over four decades with high resolution across the biome. The Amazon's climate is not uniform, with the central north experiencing the most rapid climate extreme growth, not due to local factors like deforestation but rather global warming.
This rapid climate change poses severe threats, including increased forest fires, animal and tree deaths, and impacts on human health from heat and air pollution.
Written by urgent.news from Phys.org's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
