Creating a drought to predict the Amazon 'tipping point'

On the southern edge of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, construction is underway. Using wood confiscated from illegal logging, scientists are building a platform beneath the trees that will limit the rainwater reaching their roots. The experiment, covering 10,000 square metres, will monitor how long the trees survive under extreme drought conditions. The aim is to more closely pinpoint the ‘tipping point’ at which reduced rainfall will see trees in this vulnerable part of the Amazon dying on a large scale.

This will be the first time we can link changes in the trees’ hydraulic status (their ability to transport water) with their risk of death, to better understand what the point of no return for the trees of the Amazon is.

—Professor David Galbraith

Impact

• Environmental monitoring to build climate change awareness
• Global partnerships creating equitable knowledge exchange.

Key information

• Major funders: Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
• Partners and collaborators: Mato Grosso State University (UNEMAT), the Federal University of Pará, the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM)
• Disciplines: environment, climate change
• Investigators: Professor David Galbraith.

Keywords: Amazon Rainforest, trees, climate tipping point, environment, global warming, tree mortality, global partnerships, collaboration, policy change, data collection, drought