Estimating the spatial amplification of damage caused by degradation in the Amazon

The research introduces a spatial multiplier matrix to map the cascading effects of human-induced disturbances in the Amazon, finding that wind-mediated spillovers double the average impact of initial damage, with some regions experiencing amplification up to 250%.

• The researchers developed a model using a single matrix that acts as a spatial multiplier to describe how local forest disturbances are amplified and propagated to downwind locations through atmospheric trajectories.
• Wind-mediated cascading effects in the Amazon double the average impact of an initial forest disturbance, though this varies by region, with some areas seeing amplification reach 250%.
• The calculated multiplier of 2 is considered a lower bound because the model only accounts for spillovers mediated by winds.

APA

Climate Policy Initiative (2023). Estimating the spatial amplification of damage caused by degradation in the Amazon. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/estimating-the-spatial-amplification-of-damage-caused-by-degradation-in-the-amazon/

Chicago

Climate Policy Initiative. Estimating the spatial amplification of damage caused by degradation in the Amazon. 2023. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/estimating-the-spatial-amplification-of-damage-caused-by-degradation-in-the-amazon/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Policy Initiative |title=Estimating the spatial amplification of damage caused by degradation in the Amazon |date=13 November 2023 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/estimating-the-spatial-amplification-of-damage-caused-by-degradation-in-the-amazon/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatepolicyinitiative2023estimating, author = {{Climate Policy Initiative}}, title = {{Estimating the spatial amplification of damage caused by degradation in the Amazon}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2023}, month = nov, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/estimating-the-spatial-amplification-of-damage-caused-by-degradation-in-the-amazon/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }