Research Spotlight: Amazon region became less green due to 2010 drought

New research shows that the Amazon region became significantly less green due to a severe 2010 drought. Xu et al. analyzed satellite‐based measurements to compare the greenness of Amazon vegetation due to the 2010 drought to that caused by a severe drought in 2005. They found that the decline in greenness due to the 2010 drought affected an area 4 times greater than the area affected in 2005. More than half of all drought‐stricken forest showed greenness declines in 2010, compared to only 14% in 2005. Furthermore, the declines in greenness in 2010 persisted past the time when rainfall returned to normal levels. Vegetation that is not as green absorbs less carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), leaving more CO 2 in the atmosphere, possibly accelerating global warming. ( Geophysical Research Letters , doi:10.1029/2011GL046824, 2011)