Amazon rainforest likely to become savannah due to burning, deforestation, climate change

[Barrett808]

Amazon rainforest likely to become savannah due to burning, deforestation, climate change
by Jeremy Hance

A new analysis shows that the heavily-deforested Amazonian region of Mato Grosso is particularly susceptible to 'savannization' due to repeated burning that has likely depleted the region's soils of precious nutrients. According to the study, published in the Journal of Geophyscial Research, savannization, or the process of tropical ecosystems shifting to savannah, is likely in northern Mato Grosso even if no more further deforestation occurs.

Dr. Marcos Costa, one of the study's authors, describes the savannization tipping point in an ecosystem as such: “the coupled atmosphere-biosphere system would shift from the present rainy climate-rainforest situation to an alternate drier-savanna situation...It involves the coupled vegetation-atmosphere-ocean system, but the evolution of this system apparently depends on other feedbacks that are usually neglected. These feedbacks are associated with the deforestation and agricultural practices, like soil nutrient limitation and fires.”

(more)

http://desdemonadespair.blogspot.com/2009/03/amazon-rainforest-likely-to-become.html

[Butch350]

1. And this translate to what? The result will......wha....?

[bananas]

2. The rainforest will become a grassy field

where we can grow cows.

[GliderGuider]

3. Mmmm. Haaamburgers...

I'll have mine with extra flatulence and a side order of eutrophication, please...

[hatrack]

5. Careful with that kind of "offensive" thinking!!!

:hi:

[Nihil]

4. Step 3: Profit!

<sigh>