Tropical Rainforests at Risk: Global Warming Threatens Photosynthesis
Rising temperatures pose a specific threat to tropical rainforests as leaves are unable to photosynthesize when temperatures reach 116°F, according to a report published in Nature. This failure in photosynthesis could have severe consequences for the world's forests, which play a crucial role in sustaining life and regulating the global climate. Currently, only 0.01% of leaves are passing the critical temperature threshold, but this percentage is expected to increase as temperatures continue to rise due to global warming. If temperatures exceed a threshold of 7.2°F, the percentage of leaves failing to photosynthesize could rise to 1.4%, potentially leading to significant leaf loss and tree death.
