Climate Change

A frequently overlooked aspect of Amazonian deforestation is the impact climate change/global warming has on the health of the rainforest. The truth of the matter is that climate change and global warming are going to cause warmer and drier seasons for the Amazon Rainforest (Pratginestos 2008).  Regional deforestation has already begun to alter the regional climate because there is less Carbon Dioxide (CO2) being taken out of the atmosphere by trees and this causes temperatures to rise due to the greenhouse effect (Pratginestos 2008).

Relation between global warming and rainfall change (Moukaddem 2011)

If current trends keep up, the outlook is bleak for the Amazon Rainforest. We can expect decreased agricultural yields, increased erosion, decreased precipitation, decreased water availability and many more harmful consequences (Pratginestos 2008).

The Amazon is also going to fall susceptible to increased drought sensitivity (Phillips 2008). This means that as conditions get worse and worse, the Amazons tolerance will continue to decrease. Eventually, if we are not careful, between 30%-60% of the Amazon can turn into a dry savannah (Pratginestos 2008). This has clear ramifications, including loss of biodiversity, decreased agricultural yields, decreased water availability and harm to human health.

Fires in the Amazon are uncommon (Lindsey 2008)

Another risk associated with decreased moisture, drier conditions, and lowered levels of biomass in the Amazon rainforest is the increasing rate of fires in the region (Yadvinder 2008). Historically, the Amazon rainforest is a region in which fires are naturally rare, and the ecosystem is not accustomed to dealing with the destruction fires can bring along with them(Yadvinder 2008). As the spread of fire ignition is associated with deforestation and habitat fragmentation, conservation biologists worry that over time, the Amazon rainforest may be converted into a fire dominated, low biomass environment (Yadvinder 2008).

Synthetic Figure:       
        

This synthetic figure (comprised of the two following figures from different sources) illustrates the fact that global levels of atmospheric CO2 are increasing at an increasing rate and also sheds some light on how this affects global crop yields.

The infamous Keeling Curve (Narayanese 2014)

What is thought provoking is looking at the reductions in levels of crops that are grown in Brazil, particularly maize and soybean. As atmospheric CO2 levels continue to increase as shown above to the right, global temperatures are going to keep going up and will continue to hinder crop growth in the Amazon. 

Two of the main crops grown in the Amazon rainforest and really over many parts of Brazil are maize and soybean (Nelson 2011). The second figure shows yield levels of maize in Brazil decreasing by nearly 10% and yield levels of soy in Brazil decreasing by approximately 5% since 1980. These crops provide a great source of income for the Brazilian economy (as they are heavily exported) and are an absolute necessity for many farmers trying to make a living (Nelson 2011). This is yet another example of why reducing global warming must be actively pursued by humans NOW. 

Climatic Trends on Crop Yields (Nelson 2011)

In addition, I am concerned that if crop yields continue to decline and world population continues to increase, farmers in the Amazon will be under more pressure to develop more agricultural  land to produce their crops. In turn this development leads to more deforestation and increasing levels of atmospheric CO2, turning it into a vicious cycle.

Reduce your carbon footprint! (Oifer 2008)

Needless to say, global warming is a world issue, not just an Amazonian one, and conservation efforts are underway across the globe to try and curb its effects. How successful we are will determine the future of this beautiful Amazonian habitat and ultimately, the very world we live in.