Think of Earth’s forests, grasslands, and wetlands as superheroes fighting climate change by absorbing carbon. But new research shows these heroes are losing their powers during intense heatwaves. 🌡️
A study in Nature Ecology & Evolution reveals that over the past 40 years, extreme warm events—fueled by climate change—have disrupted the planet’s natural ability to trap carbon. The 'net ecosystem exchange' (NEE), which measures how much carbon ecosystems soak up, fluctuates wildly when temperatures spike, like a car engine sputtering in a heatwave. 🚗💨
Researchers warn that if global temperatures keep rising, ecosystems could become less reliable in buffering humanity’s carbon emissions. Imagine your favorite streaming service buffering endlessly—*that’s* how critical this slowdown is for climate goals. 🌿📉
This isn’t just science—it’s a wake-up call. Protecting biodiversity and slashing emissions could help restore Earth’s carbon-capturing mojo. 💪✨
