Como a Amazônia regula o clima do planeta

Summary

The Amazon rainforest, a crucial water vapor processor and climate regulator, plays a vital role in the global ecosystem by controlling carbon and water cycles through stomata in leaves. It stores vast amounts of carbon, and deforestation could exacerbate climate change. Despite recent deforestation and droughts, Brazil has made strides in reducing these activities and is committed to reforesting under the Paris Agreement. Sustainable development of the Amazon is possible and beneficial, supporting agriculture and mitigating climate change.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The Amazon rainforest acts as a significant water vapor processor and climate regulator for the Amazonian region.
• 🌿 The carbon and water cycles are regulated by stomata, tiny pores on tree leaves, which facilitate photosynthesis and release water vapor.
• 💧 The Amazon is a major source of water vapor, contributing to precipitation in Brazil and the global atmosphere.
• 🌳 The rainforest emits volatile organic compounds that lead to cloud nucleation and precipitation in the Amazon.
• 🌳🔄 The Amazon provides essential ecosystem services that help maintain the planet's climate.
• 🌲 Trees in the Amazon store approximately 100 gigatons of carbon, equivalent to a decade of global fossil fuel emissions.
• 🔥 Deforestation of the Amazon would release this stored carbon into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change.
• 🔥🇧🇷 In 2019, Brazil experienced extensive deforestation and fires, leading to the release of greenhouse gases and aerosol particles.
• 🌳🔥 Deforestation is permanent, as the destruction of the rainforest's biome makes recovery of biodiversity and ecosystem services unlikely.
• 🌡️ The Amazon is under additional stress due to global warming and has experienced severe droughts, impacting its ability to absorb carbon.
• 📉 Brazil has made progress in reducing deforestation and has committed to ending deforestation and reforestation as part of the Paris Agreement.
• 💡 Sustainable development of the Amazon is possible and can be profitable, as shown by projects funded by the Amazon Fund, and can help mitigate global climate change.

Q & A

What role does the Amazon rainforest play in the water cycle?

The Amazon rainforest functions as a major source of water vapor, irrigating agribusiness in central Brazil and the country's southern regions, and contributing to the global atmosphere's water vapor through convection in the tropical region.

How does the Amazon rainforest contribute to the climate of the Amazonian region?

Scientists believe that the Amazon rainforest itself controls the climate of the entire Amazonian region, regulating the rain and carbon cycles through the stomata on tree leaves.

What is the process by which plants release water vapor into the atmosphere?

During photosynthesis, plants open their stomata to intake carbon dioxide, and in the process, release water vapor into the atmosphere.

What are volatile organic compounds and how do they affect the atmosphere?

Volatile organic compounds are gases emitted by the Amazon rainforest that are highly reactive in the atmosphere, leading to cloud nucleation and contributing to precipitation in the Amazonian region.

What ecosystem services does the Amazon rainforest provide?

The Amazon rainforest provides essential ecosystem services such as maintaining the planet's climate, regulating water and carbon cycles, and storing vast amounts of carbon.

How much carbon is stored by the trees and roots of the Amazon rainforest?

The trees and roots of the Amazon rainforest store approximately 100 gigatons of carbon, equivalent to 10 years' worth of worldwide fossil fuel burning.

What are the consequences of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest?

Deforestation in the Amazon releases stored carbon into the atmosphere, exacerbating the critical climate condition of our planet, and the destruction of the biome makes it unlikely for the rainforest to recover its biodiversity and ecosystem services.

How much primary rainforest was deforested and burned in Brazil in 2019?

In 2019, 9,750 square kilometers of primary rainforest in Brazil were deforested and burned, leading to the production of greenhouse gases and aerosol particles affecting areas all over Brazil.

What was the impact of the droughts in 2005 and 2010 on the Amazon rainforest?

The droughts in 2005 and 2010 caused the Amazon rainforest to undergo significant stress, to the point where it began releasing carbon into the atmosphere instead of absorbing it.

What commitments has Brazil made regarding deforestation in the Amazon?

Brazil has committed to ending deforestation of the Amazon and reforestation of 12 million hectares across the country as part of the international commitments proposed in the Paris Agreement.

How can the Amazon rainforest be sustainably developed according to the script?

Experiments funded by the Amazon Fund have shown that sustainable development of the Amazon rainforest is possible and profitable, generating employment and promoting productivity in agriculture and livestock due to increased precipitation.

Outlines

00:00

🌳 Amazon Rainforest's Climate Regulation

The Amazon rainforest is described as a tropical rainforest that acts as a massive water vapor processor, influencing the climate of the entire Amazonian region. The ecosystem's uniqueness lies in its ability to regulate the rain and carbon cycles through the stomata on tree leaves. These stomata are crucial for photosynthesis, allowing the intake of carbon dioxide and the release of water vapor, which contributes to the global atmosphere's moisture. The rainforest also emits volatile organic compounds that lead to cloud nucleation and precipitation. It stores approximately 100 gigatons of carbon, equivalent to a decade of global fossil fuel emissions. Deforestation, as seen in the 12,750 km2 of primary rainforest destroyed in Brazil in 2019, releases this carbon and exacerbates climate change. However, Brazil has made significant strides in reducing deforestation and has committed to ending it under the Paris Agreement. Sustainable development of the Amazon, supported by initiatives like the Amazon Fund, is not only possible but also economically beneficial, promoting employment and productivity in agriculture and livestock while mitigating global climate change.

Keywords

💡Tropical Rainforest

A tropical rainforest is a dense, warm, and wet forest characterized by high biodiversity. It plays a crucial role in the Earth's climate by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. In the video, the Amazon is described as a tropical rainforest that functions as a significant water vapor processor, impacting the climate of the entire Amazonian region.

💡Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem services refer to the benefits humans obtain from ecosystems, such as water purification, pollination, and climate regulation. The video emphasizes that the Amazon rainforest provides essential ecosystem services, including the regulation of the water and carbon cycles, which are vital for maintaining the planet's climate.

💡Stomata

Stomata are tiny pores on the surface of plant leaves that facilitate gas exchange. They allow plants to take in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and release water vapor into the atmosphere. The script explains how the Amazon rainforest's stomata help regulate the rain and carbon cycles, contributing to the ecosystem's unique ability to control the climate.

💡Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert carbon dioxide and sunlight into glucose and oxygen. It is fundamental to plant growth and a key component of the carbon cycle. The video script describes how the Amazon rainforest's trees use photosynthesis to transform CO2 into nourishment while releasing water vapor.

💡Carbon Cycle

The carbon cycle is the process by which carbon is exchanged between the Earth's atmosphere, oceans, soil, ecosystems, and living organisms. The Amazon rainforest plays a significant role in this cycle by absorbing carbon dioxide and storing carbon in its trees and roots, as highlighted in the video.

💡Deforestation

Deforestation is the removal of trees and forests, often for agricultural or development purposes. The script mentions the negative impact of deforestation in the Amazon, where it leads to the release of stored carbon into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change.

💡Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Volatile organic compounds are gases emitted by certain plants and are highly reactive in the atmosphere. They contribute to the formation of clouds and precipitation. The video explains how the Amazon rainforest emits VOCs that lead to cloud nucleation and affect the region's precipitation.

💡Precipitation

Precipitation is any form of water that falls from the atmosphere and reaches the Earth's surface, such as rain or snow. The video script discusses how the Amazon rainforest contributes to precipitation in the region through the release of water vapor and VOCs.

💡Agribusiness

Agribusiness refers to farming operations conducted on a large scale, often incorporating industrial methods. The script mentions that the Amazon rainforest irrigates agribusiness in central Brazil, indicating the importance of the rainforest in supporting agricultural activities.

💡Global Warming

Global warming is the long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to human activities, primarily the emission of greenhouse gases. The video describes the Amazon rainforest as being under additional stress due to global warming, which affects its ability to absorb carbon and contribute to climate regulation.

💡Drought

A drought is a period of unusually low precipitation, leading to a shortage of water. The video script refers to severe droughts in the Amazon in 2005 and 2010, which caused the ecosystem to release carbon instead of absorbing it, highlighting the impact of climate change on the rainforest.

💡Sustainable Development

Sustainable development is a form of progress that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The video concludes by discussing the importance of finding sustainable ways to develop the Amazon rainforest, emphasizing the potential benefits for both Brazil and global climate change mitigation.

Highlights

The Amazon is a tropical rainforest that functions as an enormous water vapor processor.

Scientists believe the rainforest controls the climate of the entire Amazonian region.

The Amazonian ecosystem is unique due to its regulation of rain and carbon cycles.

Stomata on tree leaves regulate the intake of CO2 and release of water vapor for photosynthesis.

The Amazon rainforest is a major source of water vapor for agribusiness and global atmosphere.

Emission of volatile organic compounds from the Amazon leads to cloud nucleation and precipitation.

The Amazon provides essential ecosystem services for maintaining the planet's climate.

Amazon's trees and roots store approximately 100 gigatons of carbon.

Deforestation of the Amazon could release stored carbon, exacerbating climate conditions.

In 2019, Brazil experienced significant deforestation and burning of primary rainforest.

Deforestation results in permanent loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

The Amazon is under stress due to deforestation and increasing global temperatures.

Droughts in 2005 and 2010 caused the Amazon to release carbon instead of absorbing it.

Brazil has been successful in reducing deforestation and committed to the Paris Agreement.

The Amazon Fund supports experiments showing sustainable development is both possible and profitable.

Sustainable development in the Amazon can generate employment and increase agricultural productivity.

Increased precipitation in central Brazil can help mitigate global climate change.

Transcripts

The Amazon is a tropical rainforest

because it functions like an enormous water vapor processor.

In fact, a number of scientists posit that the rainforest itself

controls the climate of the entire Amazonian region.

This means that the Amazonian ecosystem is unique.

The rain and carbon cycles are in fact regulated by tiny pores

on the surface of tree leaves called stomata.

For photosynthesis to occur, a plant needs to open its stomata

so as to allow the intake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which, by means of photosynthesis,

is transformed into nourishment for the plant.

By opening the stomata for the intake of CO2, water vapor is released into the atmosphere.

The Amazon rainforest is a major source of water vapor,

irrigating the agribusiness in central Brazil, as well as the country's southern regions

and, because of the enormous convection that occurs in the tropical region,

it is also a major source of water vapor for the global atmosphere as a whole.

In addition to emitting particles directly into the atmosphere, the Amazon rainforest

also emits gases called volatile organic compounds

that are extremely reactive in the atmosphere.

And these particles ultimately lead to cloud nucleation,

which, in conjunction with the water vapor released by vegetation,

contributes to precipitation in the Amazonian region.

So the Amazon rainforest provides ecosystem services

which are absolutely essential to the maintenance of our planet's climate.

But the rainforest plays an additional, fundamental role.

Its trees and their roots store roughly 100 gigatons of carbon.

This is equivalent to 10 years' worth of worldwide fossil fuel burning.

This is of utmost importance because, if we deforest the Amazon,

that carbon will be released into the atmosphere,

further aggravating the already critical climate condition in which our planet finds itself.

In 2019, Brazil 9,750km2 of primary rainforest,

It was then burned, leading to the production of greenhouse gases and aerosol particles

which affect areas all over Brazil.

Every year, by observing satellite images, we can see enormous smoke clouds

rising from the amazonian region and drifting towards southern Brazil.

This deforestation is permanent because, once the rainforest's biome is destroyed,

it is unlikely that the rainforest will recover its biodiversity and provide the ecosystem services

it provided before the slash and burn.

And, seeing as our planet is undergoing a clear and rapid process of warming,

the Amazon rainforest is already being subjected to additional stress

– besides deforestation – which is associated with the increase in global temperatures.

In 2005, we experienced the worst drought of the century.

A drought of the same magnitude occurred yet again in 2010

and the ecosystem underwent a large amount of stress,

so much so that the forest began releasing carbon into the atmosphere

as opposed to absorbing it as it had been doing 10 years ago.

It is important to note that Brazil has been highly successful in reducing deforestation.

Moreover, the international commitments proposed by Brazil in the Paris Agreement

state that the country must put an end to deforestation of the Amazon

and reforest 12 million hectares across the country.

We have to use our heads

and find ways to sustainably develop the Amazon rainforest.

A number of experiments, especially those funded by the Amazon Fund,

have shown that this is not only possible, but also profitable for Brazil.

It generates employment, promotes a rise in productivity in the agriculture and livestock industry

because of the increase in precipitation and rain in central Brazil,

all of which can also help attenuate global climate change.