Rio De Janeiro • Fires across the Brazilian Amazon have sparked an international outcry for preservation of the world*s largest rainforest. Here’s a look at the role the Amazon plays in regulating the world’s climate:
No. While it's commonly said that the Amazon produces 20% of the world's oxygen, climate scientists say that figure is wrong and the oxygen supply is not directly at risk in any case. That's because forests, including the Amazon, absorb roughly the same amount of oxygen they produce. Plants do produce oxygen through photosynthesis, but they also absorb it to grow, as do animals and microbes.