Amazonian forest 'more resilient' (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

The Amazon rainforest may be more resistant to rising temperatures than has been believed.

Researchers found that during the 2005 drought, many parts of the rainforest "greened", apparently growing faster.

This finding contrasts with some computer models of climate change, which forecast that the Amazon would dry out and become savannah.

Writing in the journal Science, the researchers say it is unclear how the forest would respond to a long drought.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7003788.stm

[AlecBGreen]

1. that is good news

but IIRC vines and smaller plants react much more quickly/efficiently to higher temps and CO2 concentrations than large, woody plants. Still, perhaps all the doom-and-gloom predictions of Amazonian death from a two year drought are not accurate.

[losthills]

2. That is good news,

and not entirely unexpected, since they evolved in the tropics.

Some of North America's forests are not faring so well, though. Especially in the South and Southwest. Some of our forests are remnants of the last ice age and only grow at the higher elevations. As the climate warms and dries trees are dying off and pest infestations are becoming rampant. Even where our forests are doing okay, they are showing a lack of resiliency to recover from forest fires and clear-cutting....

[phantom power]

3. Unfortunately, they DO appear to be sensitive to drought.

Studies by the blue-chip Woods Hole Research Centre, carried out in Amazonia, have concluded that the forest cannot withstand more than two consecutive years of drought without breaking down.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=105467&mesg_id=105467

As Amazon Forest Approaches Potential Tipping Point, Brazilian Gov. Now More Flexible On Climate
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=106399&mesg_id=106399