"Climate Crisis: Tropical Forests on the Brink of Heat Extremes"
Tropical forests are approaching critical temperature thresholds due to global warming, which could lead to the collapse of their ability to transform sunlight and CO2 into energy, according to a study. Some upper canopy leaves have already reached temperatures above 47 degrees Celsius, preventing photosynthesis. If the average surface temperature of tropical forests warms 4C above current levels, total leaf death is predicted. The study suggests that leaf death could contribute to the transition of tropical forests into savannah-like landscapes. If temperatures continue to rise, mass mortality among the canopies could occur in a little over a century. Deforestation and increased fragmentation of forests are exacerbating the problem.
