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Forest-rainfall cascades buffer against drought across the Amazon

Author

Listed:
  • Arie Staal

    (Wageningen University)

  • Obbe A. Tuinenburg

    (Utrecht University)

  • Joyce H. C. Bosmans

    (Utrecht University)

  • Milena Holmgren

    (Wageningen University)

  • Egbert H. van Nes

    (Wageningen University)

  • Marten Scheffer

    (Wageningen University)

  • Delphine Clara Zemp

    (University of Goettingen
    Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research)

  • Stefan C. Dekker

    (Utrecht University
    Open University)

Abstract

Tree transpiration in the Amazon may enhance rainfall for downwind forests. Until now it has been unclear how this cascading effect plays out across the basin. Here, we calculate local forest transpiration and the subsequent trajectories of transpired water through the atmosphere in high spatial and temporal detail. We estimate that one-third of Amazon rainfall originates within its own basin, of which two-thirds has been transpired. Forests in the southern half of the basin contribute most to the stability of other forests in this way, whereas forests in the south-western Amazon are particularly dependent on transpired-water subsidies. These forest-rainfall cascades buffer the effects of drought and reveal a mechanism by which deforestation can compromise the resilience of the Amazon forest system in the face of future climatic extremes.

Suggested Citation

  • Arie Staal & Obbe A. Tuinenburg & Joyce H. C. Bosmans & Milena Holmgren & Egbert H. van Nes & Marten Scheffer & Delphine Clara Zemp & Stefan C. Dekker, 2018. "Forest-rainfall cascades buffer against drought across the Amazon," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(6), pages 539-543, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:8:y:2018:i:6:d:10.1038_s41558-018-0177-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-018-0177-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Onil Banerjee & Martin Cicowiez & Marcia Macedo & Žiga Malek & Peter Verburg & Sean Goodwin & Renato Vargas & Ludmila Rattis & Paulo M. Brando & Michael T. Coe & Christopher Neill & Octavio Damiani, 2020. "An Amazon Tipping Point: The Economic and Environmental Fallout," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0292, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
    2. Yanfeng Wang & Ping Huang, 2022. "Potential fire risks in South America under anthropogenic forcing hidden by the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Araujo, Rafael, 2024. "The value of tropical forests to hydropower," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    4. Vinícius B. P. Chagas & Pedro L. B. Chaffe & Günter Blöschl, 2022. "Climate and land management accelerate the Brazilian water cycle," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Mingjie Shi & John R. Worden & Adriana Bailey & David Noone & Camille Risi & Rong Fu & Sarah Worden & Robert Herman & Vivienne Payne & Thomas Pagano & Kevin Bowman & A. Anthony Bloom & Sassan Saatchi , 2022. "Amazonian terrestrial water balance inferred from satellite-observed water vapor isotopes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Nico Wunderling & Frederik Wolf & Obbe A. Tuinenburg & Arie Staal, 2022. "Network motifs shape distinct functioning of Earth’s moisture recycling hubs," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    7. Timothy M. Lenton & Jesse F. Abrams & Annett Bartsch & Sebastian Bathiany & Chris A. Boulton & Joshua E. Buxton & Alessandra Conversi & Andrew M. Cunliffe & Sophie Hebden & Thomas Lavergne & Benjamin , 2024. "Remotely sensing potential climate change tipping points across scales," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.

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