Amazon's Time Machine: Simulating Future Climates in the Rainforest

Deep within Brazil's Amazon, researchers have engineered a "time machine" designed to pump carbon dioxide into the rainforest canopy. This unique scientific endeavor aims to mimic future atmospheric conditions, providing crucial data on the biome's adaptability—a topic set to be a focal point at next month's COP30 United Nations climate summit hosted by the country.

At the AmazonFACE project site near Manaus, towering steel structures encircle groups of mature trees, creating an experimental setup to test the rainforest's response to elevated carbon dioxide levels. Three of the six rings will expose trees to CO2 levels predicted for upcoming decades, while the others serve as controls for comparison.

Standing beneath the canopy, forestry engineer Gustavo Carvalho highlighted the project's significance as a pioneering experiment in a tropical forest. The initiative, supported by Brazil's federal government and the UK, records the forest's reactions every 10 minutes, offering insights into how increased carbon emissions will affect the Amazon and broader climate change mitigation efforts.