Is the Amazon rainforest, the "lungs of the planet," truly in peril? Recent satellite data paints a stark picture of accelerating deforestation, raising critical questions about the future of this vital ecosystem and its impact on global climate stability.

From the University of Leeds, scientist Michelle Kalamandeen, utilizing forest change data from the University of Maryland, has been meticulously observing the smaller clearings within the Amazon. A timelapse, capturing the devastating effects of deforestation in both the Amazon and Madagascar, offers a chilling visual from satellite imagery. These images, now routinely captured by orbiting spacecraft, provide an unprecedented view of the rainforest's health, or lack thereof. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have even sent messages from orbit, some 250 miles above, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Subject:	Deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest
Location:	Amazon Rainforest (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, etc.) & Mato Grosso, Brazil
Key Issue:	Significant loss of rainforest cover due to deforestation, impacting biodiversity, climate, and local communities.
Start Date:	Data collection started in 1985
Key People Involved:	Michelle Kalamandeen (University of Leeds), Scientists at the University of Maryland, Astronauts on the ISS, Researchers at Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Kaggle community
Methods of Research:	Satellite imagery, Forest Change Data Analysis, Time Series Analysis, NASA Satellite tracking, data analysis by organizations such as INPE, data labeling using machine learning through platforms like Kaggle.
Main Findings:	Drastic loss of rainforest cover; expansion of deforestation in specific areas (Mato Grosso, Brazil); increased fires; severe climate and biodiversity impacts; human involvement.
Areas Covered:	Deforestation, Forest Fires, Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, Social and Economic Impact, Space observation and data collection
Links:	World Wildlife Fund - Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon, the largest rainforest on Earth, is an ecosystem of unparalleled scale. It covers an area roughly equivalent to the continental United States, a vast expanse that houses an extraordinary diversity of life. A time series spanning over three decades, commencing in 1985, provides a sobering perspective on the drastic loss of rainforest cover in the Brazilian Amazon. New data from Brazils National Institute for Space Research (INPE) reveals that over 3,980 square kilometers of the Amazonan area five times the size of New York Citywere cleared in the first part of the year alone. The expanding deforestation in Mato Grosso, Brazil, is another example of the crisis. These numbers highlight the urgent need for action.

Understanding the Amazon from space is a crucial part of the solution. Orbiting spacecraft now routinely observe the rainforest, monitoring its health and providing invaluable data. As raging fires continue to sweep through the Amazon in Brazil, NASA satellites and astronauts on the International Space Station are actively tracking the flames. This collaborative effort, combining on-the-ground and aerial observation, allows for a comprehensive analysis of the situation. Satellite views of deforestation are available for everyone to see.

The use of satellite data extends beyond mere observation. The "Understanding the Amazon from Space" competition, hosted by Planet, challenged the Kaggle community to label satellite images from the Amazon basin. This data analysis initiative is crucial in improving our ability to track and understand deforestation patterns. The goal of such projects is to track changes in the Amazon rainforest due to deforestation using satellite image data. The final solutions often rely on the ensemble of data analysis techniques and machine learning models to provide the most accurate assessments.

Dr. Kalamandeen's focus on smaller clearings is significant, as they often represent the leading edge of deforestation. By monitoring these areas, scientists gain a clearer understanding of the drivers of deforestation, whether they be agricultural expansion, illegal logging, or infrastructure development. These observations are essential to inform policy and conservation efforts. From space, parts of the Amazon rainforest that have previously been logged or burned may look lush and green, similar to a place with the buzz of activity. But inside the rainforest the animal life may tell a different story, of a harsh environment and a quieter soundscape.

This story, however, is part of a larger narrative. Parts 1, 3, and 4 of the series delve deeper into the intricate picture of Amazon deforestation. The history of human interaction with the Amazon goes back a long time. Throughout history, people have left their mark on the landscape. But never have humans changed the rainforest as dramatically as they have in recent decades. The Amazon hosts approximately 40% of the world's tropical forest and about 15% of global land biodiversity (Marengo et al., 2018). It is also the home of local people who rely on rivers as transportation corridors and utilize these environments for their subsistence (Anderson et al., 1991). The reliance on the rainforest resources is essential for human lives.

The Amazon is the largest and most diverse tropical rainforest on Earth, covering an area of 5.5 million square kilometers. Its moist climate and unique terrain make it rare for the forest to burn on its own. However, deforestation is directly connected to fires in the Amazon. Farmers set the forest alight to create crop fields and space for livestock, especially cows, and this practice continues. In order to further understand the status quo of the Amazon's surface and potentially figure out how to respond to the deforestation crisis, Planet, a company that uses data to build solutions for Amazon Rainforest monitoring, is one of the key players in this fight.

Fires raged in the Amazon again in 2020, a year when the blazes were at their peak. With AP, a world class news and media organization, join the conversation. The Amazon is burning at record rates and deforestation is to blame. The fires are so immense that the smoke can be seen from space, and experts agree that the fires could have devastating climate impacts. These impacts are already being felt globally.

Amazon rainforest from space. 3D illustration with detailed planet

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Earth viewed from space showing Amazon rainforest. Realistic digital

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