Rainforest plays critical role in hydropower generation

[dipsydoodle]

Deforestation in the Amazon region could significantly reduce the amount of electricity produced from hydropower, says a new study.

Scientists say the rainforest is critical in generating the streams and rivers that ultimately turn turbines.

If trees continue to be felled, the energy produced by one of the world's biggest dams could be cut by a third.

The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22513233

Dependence of hydropower energy generation on forests in the Amazon Basin at local and regional scales

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2013/05/09/1215331110

[madokie]

1. All trees give off water vapor to stay cool so yes

the number of trees on our planet is important, whether they be in our yard or half a world away. The transpiration from grass is only a small fraction compared to the transpiration of a large tree due to the fact that a tree has so much more surface area of leaves.