region, but we are overreaching the whole planet, stretching ecological systems to a breaking point. While we are aware of the issues that threaten the well-being of life on this planet, including our own, how are we progressing on solutions? Drought crippling southwest China, millions without drinking water(03/22/2010) Over 50 million people are affected by a severe drought in southwest China, according to Xinhua, the nation's state media. The lack of rain and unseasonably high temperatures has also left 16 million people without easy access to drinking water. Healthy coral reefs produce clouds and precipitation (03/03/2010) Twenty years of research has led Dr. Graham Jones of Australia's Southern Cross University to discover a startling connection between coral reefs and coastal precipitation. According to Jones, a substance produced by thriving coral reefs seed clouds leading to precipitation in a long-standing natural process that is coming under threat due to climate change. Decline in fog threatens California's iconic redwood ecosystems(02/15/2010) A surprising new study finds that during the past century the frequency of fog along California's coast has declined by approximately three hours a day. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences the researchers are concerned that this decrease in fog threatens California's giant redwoods and the unique ecosystem they inhabit. Air pollution in China reduces rainfall(08/31/2009) Air pollution in eastern China over the past half century has reduced rainfall and exacerbated the risk of drought and crop failures, reports a study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research. Massive deforestation in the past decreased rainfall in Asia (06/25/2009) Between 1700 and 1850 forest cover in India and China plummeted, falling from 40-50 percent of land area to 5-10 percent. Forests were cut for agricultural use across Southeast Asia to feed a growing population, but the changes from forests to crops had unforeseen consequences. A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences links this deforestation across Southeast Asia with changes in the Asian Monsoon, including significantly decreased rainfall. CITATION:Jeremy Hancemongabay.com (February 01, 2012). New meteorological theory argues that the world's forests are rainmakers. http://news.mongabay.com/2012/0201-hance_interview_bioticpump.html Tags: precipitation weather deforestation forests rainforests ecosystem services ecological services Science environmental services Russia indonesia brazil south america asia southeast asia latin america Amazon Deforestation Amazon rainforest Climate Modeling climate change climate science strange tropical forests rainforest destruction rainforest conservation impact of climate change impacts of climate change environment Rainforest deforestation amazon amazon conservation amazon destruction bold and dangerous ideas that may save the world carbon emissions carbon sequestration carbon dioxide ecology global warming mitigation governance green jeremy hance interviews interview plantations rainforest temperatures temperate forests threats to the amazon threats to rainforests threats to the rainforest