New research: fire smoke, heat, and drought are eroding tropical forests' ability to absorb CO2

New research covered by Canada's National Observer shows tropical forests are losing their ability to absorb CO2 faster than expected. Wildfire smoke creates ozone that damages leaves, while heat and drought compound the stress. The hidden ozone effect alone is equal to about 24 percent of the carbon released by the fires themselves. The studies project that extreme conditions like the 2023-2024 El Nino period could become normal across most tropical regions by the 2040s. That matters for anyone relying on forest carbon offsets or natural climate solutions, because the baseline assumptions in many models may be too optimistic. Read the article for the full breakdown of the two studies and what they mean for carbon budgets and forest management.