Scientists report in the latest (4 February 2011) edition of Science, that the historic 2010 drought in the Amazon ultimately may result in the release of about 2.2 billion metric tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere. That is equivalent to about 25% of global annual carbon emissions from fossil fuel use. "If drought events continue," they conclude, "the era of intact Amazon forests buffering the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide may have passed. "
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