Tropical Rainforests at Risk: Photosynthesis Threatened by Rising Temperatures

Some leaves in tropical rainforests are reaching temperatures that are too hot for photosynthesis, according to a study. The ability of leaves to photosynthesize begins to fail when their temperature reaches around 46.7 degrees Celsius (116 Fahrenheit). Currently, only 0.01% of leaves are passing this critical temperature threshold, but as the world warms, this percentage is expected to increase, posing a threat to tropical forests. These forests cover roughly 12% of the planet, hold more than half of the world's species, and play a crucial role in carbon storage and climate regulation. If global warming exceeds 4 degrees Celsius, the amount of leaves surpassing critical temperature thresholds could rise to 1.4%, potentially causing large-scale leaf loss and tree death.