MANAUS – Deep in the heart of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, scientists have created a groundbreaking “climate time machine” to simulate the future atmosphere of Earth. The experiment, part of the AmazonFACE project, aims to study how tropical forests respond to rising carbon dioxide levels predicted for the coming decades. The findings are expected to play a key role at next month’s COP30 climate summit in Belem, where global leaders will discuss the planet’s environmental future.
The AmazonFACE site features six large steel rings towering above the jungle canopy, each surrounding about 50 to 70 mature trees. Scientists plan to fumigate three of these rings with carbon dioxide concentrations that reflect projections for mid-century climate conditions, while the remaining rings will serve as control groups. This approach will allow researchers to directly observe how the rainforest reacts to an atmosphere rich in greenhouse gases.
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Project coordinator Carlos Quesada, from Brazil’s National Institute for Amazon Research, explained that the experiment aims to “recreate the atmosphere of the future” to understand whether the Amazon can continue absorbing carbon dioxide as global temperatures rise. The Amazon plays a vital role in storing carbon and regulating the planet’s climate, but researchers warn that its resilience is uncertain as deforestation and heat stress continue to increase.
The FACE (Free-Air CO2 Enrichment) experiment, supported by the Brazilian government and the United Kingdom, is the first of its kind conducted in a tropical forest of this scale. Forestry engineer Gustavo Carvalho noted that similar studies in temperate forests have already revealed critical data, but none can match the ecological complexity of the Amazon. He emphasized that this experiment will help scientists understand how forest ecosystems might evolve under future carbon-heavy conditions.
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Currently, sensors in the AmazonFACE rings record data every 10 minutes, tracking how trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen and water vapor in response to weather changes such as rainfall and sunlight. Later stages will involve creating artificial microclimates to simulate CO2 levels expected in 2050 and 2060. Carvalho explained that this will allow researchers to “step into a small plot of forest and see what the future might look like,” offering invaluable insight into how nature may adapt—or struggle—to survive in an increasingly warming world.
As Brazil prepares to host COP30 from November 10 to 21, scientists hope the project’s findings will guide policymakers toward more effective environmental strategies. The AmazonFACE experiment represents not just a scientific breakthrough, but also a crucial warning about the urgent need to preserve tropical rainforests to prevent the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.