Amazon trees are growing thicker as co2 levels soar, revealing unexpected forest resilience

In a surprising twist to the climate change story, researchers have discovered that mature Amazon rainforest trees are literally getting “fatter” as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels reach record highs. A new study published in Nature Plants reveals that tree trunk sizes in the Amazon are expanding by an average of 3.3% each decade—a phenomenon that has caught scientists off guard.

The World Meteorological Organization recently reported that 2024 saw the largest increase in atmospheric carbon concentration since measurements began in 1957, driven primarily by human activities like burning fossil fuels. While this trend accelerates global warming, Amazon trees appear to be responding in an unexpected way. “We wouldn’t normally expect the average size of trees in an old-growth forest to change over time, since their growth and death rates generally remain stable,” explains Rebecca Banbury Morgan, a researcher at the University of Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences and co-author of the study.

This discovery highlights the Amazon’s continued role as a crucial carbon sink, with trees absorbing CO2 during photosynthesis. However, the research reveals that mature Amazon forests are showing remarkable resilience to climate changes caused by excess atmospheric carbon—defying scientists’ expectations about how ancient ecosystems respond to rapid environmental shifts.

The findings offer a complex picture of forest adaptation in our changing climate. While the Amazon’s apparent resilience is encouraging, researchers emphasize that this doesn’t diminish the urgent need to address rising CO2 emissions. Understanding how the world’s largest rainforest responds to climate change remains critical for predicting future environmental scenarios and developing effective conservation strategies.