How close is the relationship between global warming and rainforests?

They are related in more ways than we can immediately imagine.

The global warming effects, particularly on the rainforest ecosystems, are many and wide-ranging.

For example, the lack of sufficient amounts of rainfall due to global warming (among many other factors) may lead to the loss of forest cover because tropical rainforests need lots of moisture to thrive.

Moreover, higher temperatures cause the plants' rates of photosynthesis to decline. This will stunt plant growth and reduce the rainforests' capacity to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

As we know, carbon dioxide is the most serious agent of global warming and its removal from the atmosphere is important for keeping the temperature stable.

In addition to that, climate warming has an negative impact on the welfare of rainforest animals.

Warming has already been linked to the extinction of some tropical species of amphibians, and is predicted to put many more plant and animal species at risk of complete disappearance in the 21st century.

Ironically, tropical rainforests do not simply suffer from global warming, they may also contribute to it.

Yes, you've read that correctly.

So this makes deforestation one of the global warming causes.

Whether we will be able to bring the problem of global warming under control or not will determine the future of our planet in general and rainforests in particular.

One of the ways to succeed here is by green investing. There are many other simple steps each of us can take to improve the state of our environment. Success may only be achieved by our joint actions.

Go back from Global Warming and Rainforests to the Global Warming Unstoppable & Unavoidable web page, or visit the Stuff in the Air homepage.

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