Amazon Fires: The Horrifying Science of Deforestation

A New Study Reveals the Devastating Consequences

Deforestation is a major contributor to climate change, and nowhere is this more evident than in the Amazon rainforest. A new study has found that the Amazon has become a source of carbon dioxide, rather than the carbon sink it once was.

The study, published in the journal Nature, used satellite data to measure the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from fires in the Amazon between 2010 and 2018. The researchers found that the fires released 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to the annual emissions of 350 million cars.

The findings are particularly alarming because the Amazon rainforest is one of the most important carbon sinks on the planet. It is estimated that the Amazon stores about 10% of the world's carbon. The loss of this carbon sink could have a significant impact on climate change.

The study also found that the fires are having a devastating impact on the Amazon's biodiversity. The fires have destroyed millions of acres of forest, and many species of plants and animals are now threatened with extinction.

The Amazon fires are a major environmental crisis. The study's findings underscore the urgent need to take action to protect the Amazon rainforest.