Location
Physics : 401
Date & Time
December 6, 2017, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Description
TITLE: The Amazon rainforest: why should we care? From politics to science in Brazil
ABSTRACT: The Amazon rainforest is a tipping element of the earth system. Reduced rainfall and increased temperatures, expected to occur with climate change and deforestation, might induce its dieback, while in turn forest loss will intensify regional droughts. The consequences of this human-vegetation-atmosphere feedback would go beyond the forest boundaries, for many different mechanisms I intend to discuss during this talk. While we scientists have a good idea about the danger ahead and how to proceed, politicians in Brazil are doing the exact opposite, both environmental and socio-economic wise. About that, I intend to give my personal account on the recent Brazilian history, the ongoing political and policy changes, and the potentially catastrophic consequences.
ABSTRACT: The Amazon rainforest is a tipping element of the earth system. Reduced rainfall and increased temperatures, expected to occur with climate change and deforestation, might induce its dieback, while in turn forest loss will intensify regional droughts. The consequences of this human-vegetation-atmosphere feedback would go beyond the forest boundaries, for many different mechanisms I intend to discuss during this talk. While we scientists have a good idea about the danger ahead and how to proceed, politicians in Brazil are doing the exact opposite, both environmental and socio-economic wise. About that, I intend to give my personal account on the recent Brazilian history, the ongoing political and policy changes, and the potentially catastrophic consequences.