To determine the sensitivity of intact African tropical forests to climate extremes, researchers measured carbon loss and gain tied to trees between 1984 and 2017 from 100 forest inventory plots in six African countries, and found that record-high temperatures following the 2015-2016 El Niño Southern Oscillation did not significantly increase carbon loss from tree mortality or reduce carbon gains from tree growth; intact forests continued gaining biomass and remained a carbon sink throughout record heat and drought conditions, suggesting that intact tropical forests in Africa may be more resistant to climate extremes than similar forests in Asia or the Amazon, according to the authors.
Article #20-03169: "Resistance of African tropical forests to an extreme climate anomaly," by Amy C. Bennett et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Amy Bennett, University of Leeds, UNITED KINGDOM; tel: 07849974287; email: a.c.bennett@leeds.ac.uk
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences