Tropical forests are called the 'lungs of the Earth' because they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produce around 20% of the oxygen on our planet, helping to regulate the climate and maintain the oxygen balance.
Tropical forests play a crucial role in carbon storage on a global scale. They act as true carbon sinks, absorbing an impressive amount of CO2 from the atmosphere. The trees and other plants that make up these forests capture carbon during photosynthesis, and store it in their wood, leaves, roots, and in the soil. This process plays an essential role in regulating the carbon cycle and thus helps mitigate global warming by reducing the amount of greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere.
Tropical forests contain massive amounts of carbon. In fact, they store about 25% of terrestrial carbon, even though they only cover 7% of the Earth's surface. This high concentration of carbon makes tropical forests essential reservoirs for limiting the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere.
Deforestation and degradation of tropical forests release large amounts of stored carbon. When trees are cut down or burned, the carbon they contain is released as CO2, significantly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Preserving tropical forests and restoring degraded forest ecosystems are crucial actions to maintain the balance of the carbon cycle and combat climate change.
Tropical forests produce a significant amount of oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. Trees and plants in tropical forests absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and, with the help of sunlight, transform this carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose. This vital process for plants is essential to life on Earth as it provides the oxygen needed for the respiration of most living beings. In fact, it is estimated that tropical forests are responsible for producing about 20% of Earth's oxygen. Without these essential forest ecosystems, the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere would decrease significantly, affecting all life on our planet.
Tropical forests play a crucial role in regulating the climate on a global scale. They help maintain the planet's thermal balance by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. This process allows for the storage of carbon in the biomass of trees and forest soil, reducing the amount of CO2 in the air, which helps mitigate the greenhouse effect and limit global warming. By absorbing the sun's heat for photosynthesis, tropical forests also help regulate local and global temperatures. In addition to absorbing CO2, tropical forests release water into the atmosphere through a process called plant transpiration. This water vapor condenses to form clouds, which reflect some of the solar radiation, helping to cool the Earth's surface. Therefore, tropical forests act as natural climate regulators by helping maintain a balance between local and global temperatures.
The Amazon rainforest is the largest tropical forest in the world, spanning approximately 5.5 million square kilometers in South America.
Tropical forests are home to about 50% of all known animal and plant species on the planet, making them incredibly rich in biodiversity.
Some plants in the tropical forest contain compounds with medicinal properties that have been used in the development of many modern medicines.
Tropical forests help maintain air humidity by evaporating/transpiring large quantities of water.
Tropical forests are home to a wide diversity of plant and animal species, making them a biodiversity-rich ecosystem.
Deforestation, logging, and intensive agriculture have harmful consequences on tropical forests and their ability to act as the 'lungs of the Earth'.
The disappearance of tropical forests leads to a massive release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, thus contributing to global warming.
Tropical forests are particularly threatened in the Amazon, Indonesia, and Central Africa due to intensive deforestation.
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