Domino Effect in the Amazon Region

https://idw-online.de/en/news842320

By MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences and Faculty of Geosciences, University of Bremen

The Amazon rainforest plays a critical role in regulating the Earth’s climate, but it’s under threat from both deforestation and climate change. Recent research reveals a close connection between the Amazon and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a major ocean current system. Scientists have found that even moderate changes in AMOC could disrupt the Amazon’s rainfall patterns, leading to a decline in vegetation. These findings suggest that weakened ocean circulation, combined with ongoing deforestation, could push the Amazon past a tipping point, with devastating global consequences. The study underscores how interconnected and fragile our planet’s systems truly are.