Qualla: The Amazon: The Forest That Makes Its Own Rain

The Amazon: The Forest That Makes Its Own Rain: Introduction

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit University of Exeter, CC BY-SA 4.0. The Amazon rainforest is so vast it creates its own weather. Trees release water vapor through transpiration, forming clouds that rain back down, sustaining the forest in a self-perpetuating cycle. This 'flying river' carries more water than the Amazon River itself. The forest stores 150-200 billion tons of carbon. It contributes significantly to oxygen production (though the oft-cited '20%' figure is disputed by scientists). It contains 10% of all species on Earth. And it's disappearing - deforestation claims an area the size of a football field every minute. The Amazon that has existed for 55 million years may not survive the 21st century.

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Image: University of Exeter | CC BY-SA 4.0

The Amazon: The Forest That Makes Its Own Rain: The Basin

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Phil P Harris, CC BY-SA 2.5. The Amazon basin covers 2.7 million square miles across nine countries - 60% in Brazil. The rainforest itself spans 2.1 million square miles, making it the largest tropical forest on Earth. The Amazon River discharges more water than the next seven largest rivers combined. Appro...

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Image: Phil P Harris | CC BY-SA 2.5

The Amazon: The Forest That Makes Its Own Rain: The Rain

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit USFWS, Public domain. The Amazon generates half its own rainfall. Trees pump water from the soil through their roots and release it as vapor through their leaves - transpiration. This moisture forms clouds that rain back down. The process creates 'flying rivers' of atmospheric moisture that water the ...

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Image: USFWS | Public domain

The Amazon: The Forest That Makes Its Own Rain: The People

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Daan at Dutch Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0. An estimated 400-500 indigenous groups live in the Amazon, totaling about 1 million people. Many have had no contact with the outside world - Brazil's FUNAI agency monitors approximately 100 uncontacted tribes. They live as their ancestors did, hunting, fishing, and farming small...

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Image: Daan at Dutch Wikipedia | CC BY-SA 3.0

The Amazon: The Forest That Makes Its Own Rain: The Destruction

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon, Public domain. Approximately 17% of the Amazon has been destroyed since 1970 - mostly for cattle ranching (80%) and soy farming. Deforestation rates fluctuate with political will: Brazil reduced destruction 80% between 2004 and 2012, then allowed it to surge again after 2019. Fires, often set ...

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Image: Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon | Public domain

The Amazon: The Forest That Makes Its Own Rain: The Stakes

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit Robert A. Rohde, CC BY-SA 3.0. The Amazon stores 150-200 billion tons of carbon. If released through deforestation and fire, that carbon would accelerate climate change catastrophically. The forest that helps regulate global climate could, if destroyed, tip the planet into runaway warming. Conservationists fi...

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Image: Robert A. Rohde | CC BY-SA 3.0