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AP Explains: Role of the Amazon in Global Climate Change

Associated Press

   RIO DE JANEIRO - Fires across the Brazilian Amazon have sparked an
   international outcry for preservation of the world's largest
   rainforest. Here's a look at the role the Amazon plays in regulating
   the world's climate:

   Is the World's Oxygen Supply at Risk?

   No. While it's commonly said that the Amazon produces 20% of the
   world's oxygen, climate scientists say that figure is wrong and the
   oxygen supply is not directly at risk in any case. That's because
   forests, including the Amazon, absorb roughly the same amount of oxygen
   they produce. Plants do produce oxygen through photosynthesis, but they
   also absorb it to grow, as do animals and microbes.

   That doesn't mean the fires aren't a problem for the planet. The Amazon
   is a critical absorber of carbon of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas
   produced by burning fossil fuels, like oil and coal.

   Is the Amazon 'the Lungs of the Planet?'

   The Amazon rainforest is frequently referred to as the "lungs of the
   planet," but it may not be the most accurate analogy for the forest's
   role.

   Carlos Nobre, a University of Sao Paulo climate scientist, says a
   better way to picture the Amazon's role is as a sink, draining
   heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Currently, the world
   is emitting around 40 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every
   year. The Amazon absorbs 2 billion tons of CO2 per year (or 5% of
   annual emissions), making it a vital part of preventing climate change.

   What Do the Fires in the Amazon Mean for the World's Climate?

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