AmazonFACE Experiment: Studying Amazon’s Future Under Rising CO₂
Syllabus: Geography (UPSC Prelims)
Source: DD News
Context
Brazilian scientists have launched the AmazonFACE “climate time machine” experiment near Manaus to study how the Amazon rainforest will respond to future atmospheric CO₂ levels.
About AmazonFACE
What It Is:
The AmazonFACE (Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment) project is a pioneering climate experiment designed to simulate future atmospheric conditions (2050–2060) and assess how tropical rainforests—especially the Amazon—will react to rising carbon dioxide concentrations.
It is the world’s first FACE experiment in a tropical forest ecosystem.
How It Works
- Six large steel tower rings surround clusters of 50–70 mature trees.
- In three rings, trees are exposed to higher CO₂ levels reflecting future climate projections, while the rest act as control sites.
- Sensors record data on photosynthesis, carbon absorption, water use, and respiration every few minutes.
- The setup effectively recreates an “atmosphere of the future” to observe real-time forest responses.
Key Features
- Location: Near Manaus, Brazil; led by INPA (National Institute for Amazon Research) and Universidade Estadual de Campinas, in collaboration with the UK government.
- Innovation: Extends FACE research—previously done in temperate regions like the U.S.—to the world’s largest tropical rainforest.
- Continuous Monitoring: Tracks rainfall, CO₂ uptake, and forest metabolism in real time.
- Climate Modelling: Generates critical data for predicting carbon storage, biodiversity shifts, and forest resilience.
- Policy Relevance: Will inform COP30 discussions on rainforest conservation and global carbon budgeting.
Significance
- Climate Adaptation: Helps forecast how Amazon forests will behave under higher CO₂—whether they remain carbon sinks or turn into carbon sources.
- Scientific Milestone: Represents a global first in simulating climate change in a natural tropical forest environment.
- Policy Impact: Strengthens Brazil’s leadership in climate research and supports global strategies for carbon sequestration and forest conservation.
