# Tropical Forests Lose Carbon-Fighting Power During El Niño

Tropical forests in South America reversed their role as climate stabilizers during the 2015-2016 El Niño, according to research findings. Rather than absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, these forests stopped sequestering carbon and became net carbon sources during the weather pattern.

The 2015-2016 El Niño brought extreme heat and drought conditions to the Amazon and other tropical regions. Higher temperatures stressed vegetation and reduced plant growth, limiting the forests' capacity to absorb atmospheric carbon. Drought conditions also increased tree mortality and forest stress, further weakening these ecosystems' natural carbon-absorption abilities.

This shift has direct implications for global climate goals. Tropical forests, particularly the Amazon, serve as critical carbon sinks that help offset global emissions. When they stop functioning as carbon absorbers during climate events like El Niño, atmospheric CO2 accumulates faster. The research indicates that extreme weather events may trigger temporary but significant reversals in these forests' climate benefits.

Scientists measured forest carbon flux using satellite data and ground observations across multiple South American sites. The findings show variability depending on forest type and location, but the overall trend during 2015-2016 demonstrated reduced or negative carbon sequestration in key tropical regions.

The research raises concerns about future climate resilience. As El Niño events may intensify with climate change, tropical forests could spend extended periods unable to absorb carbon. This creates a feedback loop where warming weakens the very ecosystems expected to help mitigate that warming.

Conservation efforts take on greater urgency given these findings. Protecting remaining intact tropical forests preserves their long-term carbon storage capacity. Forest restoration and climate adaptation strategies may help these ecosystems maintain their carbon-sink function during increasingly extreme weather events. Understanding this vulnerability helps policymakers prioritize forest protection as