AmazonFACE Experiment

Source: DD News

Context: Scientists in Brazil have launched the AmazonFACE “climate time machine” experiment near Manaus to study how the Amazon rainforest will respond to future levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

About AmazonFACE Experiment:

What It Is?

• AmazonFACE (Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment) is a large-scale climate simulation project designed to assess how tropical rainforests—especially the Amazon—will react to elevated CO₂ levels expected by 2050–2060. It is the first experiment of its kind in tropical forests.

How It Works?

• Six steels tower rings are installed around groups of 50–70 mature trees.

• In three rings, trees are fumigated with CO₂ concentrations matching future climate forecasts, while the remaining serve as control plots.

• Continuous sensors record data on photosynthesis, oxygen release, and water vapor exchange every 10 minutes.

• The goal is to recreate the “atmosphere of the future” and observe ecosystem-level responses.

Key Features:

• Location: Conducted near Manaus, Brazil, supported by INPA (National Institute for Amazon Research) and Universidade Estadual de Campinas, with collaboration from the UK government.

• Scientific Innovation: First large-scale FACE experiment in a natural tropical forest, extending earlier FACE trials in temperate regions like the U.S.

• Continuous Monitoring: Real-time environmental data tracking rain, storms, CO₂ absorption, and respiration.

• Climate Modelling Application: Helps predict changes in forest carbon storage, biodiversity, and resilience under future atmospheric conditions.

• Policy Linkage: Provides crucial input for climate policy deliberations at COP30, especially regarding rainforest conservation and carbon budgeting.

Significance:

• Climate Adaptation Insight: Helps predict how the Amazon rainforest will respond to rising CO₂ levels, guiding global climate adaptation strategies.

• Scientific Breakthrough: Marks the world’s first large-scale CO₂ enrichment experiment in a tropical rainforest ecosystem, expanding the scope of climate modeling.

• Policy Relevance: Provides critical data for COP30 negotiations and strengthens Brazil’s leadership in global climate science and carbon sequestration research.