A new study on the Amazon rainforest has revealed that the region is sliding towards a “hypertrophic” state where droughts are longer, hotter, and more frequent.
Elchi.az reports that the study, conducted by an international team of researchers, states that this new condition has not been seen on Earth for millions of years and has no analogue in the current ecosystem.
Trees face a new level of stress
Data collected over thirty years shows how trees and soil react to extremely high temperatures and drought. This new state, called “hypertrophic”, means that forests extend far beyond their current tropical boundaries.
Experts say this process creates unprecedented stress on trees and significantly reduces the forest’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide.
Risk of hydraulic collapse and carbon starvation
Models based on research data predict that by 2100, these hot droughts will be effective year-round, even during the rainy seasons.
The decrease in soil moisture is expected to cause two main problems: first, “hydraulic collapse,” which is the formation of air bubbles in the tree trunk and prevents water transport; second, “carbon starvation,” in which photosynthesis stops because the tree closes its leaf pores to conserve water. This condition is estimated to increase the tree mortality rate by 55 percent.
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