Study: El Niño-driven dryness and heat may become norm in tropical forests

A study in Earth's Future projects that the dry and hot conditions associated with the last El Niño could become the new normal in tropical forests, with the Amazon identified as the most vulnerable region. The finding implies a structural shift in baseline climate conditions rather than a transient event, raising concerns for ecosystem resilience and carbon storage. The study is model-based, so the magnitude and timing of the shift remain uncertain.