Producing 20% of the oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere, the Amazon Rainforest, also dubbed as the Lungs of the Earth, has been burning at a record rate.
Scientists have been alarmed that this event could push back the world’s efforts on battling the climate crisis.
U.S. Forest Service photo by Mike McMillan.Â
Reportedly, the rainforest has been burning for three weeks now and the fires have only been settling. On Tuesday, it was reported that the rainforest fire is at a record high according to Brazil’s space research center, The National Institute for Space Research (INPE), which began tracking Amazon forest fires since 2013.
The INPE mentioned that more than half of the 72,843 fires in Brazil this 2019 occurred in the Amazon region which is more than 80% in contrast to last year.
Reportedly, the fire started in Bolivia which led to dark skies on Monday in São Paulo. Now, the homes of many, many living creatures in the rainforest has now been reduced to ashes.
SIGN THIS PETITION TO MAKE SURE THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT KNOWS WE CARE ABOUT THE PROTECTION OF THE AMAZON : https://t.co/z7kZry5wp0
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) August 21, 2019
Here are other tweets from alarmed netizens:
The Amazon is burning at the fastest rate in years. It’s no accident.
Deforestation and extractive industries are destroying biodiversity, and our planet’s best carbon sink.
We need bold action to combat these horrific fires and protect the Amazon.pic.twitter.com/a4Yys0Ecny
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) August 22, 2019
Been seeing heart-breaking & alarming pictures of the Amazon rainforest which has been on fire since more than 2 weeks!It is responsible for 20% of the world’s oxygen.This affects each one of us…the earth may survive climate change but we won’t. #SaveTheAmazon #PrayForTheAmazon
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) August 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/Thuvan1204/status/1164438670536933377
A video by Al Jazeera shows how the fires are so massive that the smoke can actually be seen from space:
Amazon is `the lungs of the Earth` & produces some 20% of the world`s oxygen.
it is a critical source of carbon sink for the planet and is on fire.
if that doesn't scare you,check your pulse….#climatecrisis pic.twitter.com/hH7Ilg3mya— michael (@fardos) August 22, 2019
NASA Earth Observatory shared a satellite image of the several fires in the Brazilian states of Amazonas, Para, Mato Grosso, and Rondonia which can be seen from space.
Photo courtesy of NASA Earth Observatory
Additionally, you can watch the video below for a compilation video of the fire captured by witnesses:
https://youtu.be/951hsDS9a-U
