Visit to INPA, LBA and the flux tower

Posted by Åsa on 21 October 2009

During our stay in Manaus we took the chance to visit INPA (National Institute for Research in the Amazon) and LBA (Large Scale  Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia). We had the great opportunity to meet and interview the director of INPA Dr. Adalberto Val and the second most cited scientist in the field of climate change Dr. Philp Fearnside.

Alessandro Carioca de Araújo a researcher from the LBA was kind enough to spend his whole Saturday with us showing and explaining us the flux tower that is used for studying the emission and absorption of atmospheric gases in the Amazon.

There are several of those towers in different parts of the Amazon. The one we visited was in the middle of the forest some 100km north of the city of Manaus.  A vast area of undisturbed rainforest unfolded beneath us as we ascended the narrow tower of 54 meters, the like that we had been biking through for hundreds of kilometers already but just have seen from far and from below.

A group of blue and yellow giant parrots were flying over the lush sea of green forest adding even more color and magic to the already absolutely breath taking view.

To reach the tower from the LBA research station we made some amazing mountain biking on a small path in the forest. We felt absolutely swallowed by the forest as the canopy closed above our heads and the path kept winding ever deeper into the jungle.

It is surprisingly quiet in the Amazon though, only the intense and ubiquitous sound of millions of insects is filling the warm moist air. The animals are also extremely difficult to spot, making it the more rewarding when finally you se some of the very rich but well hidden fauna.

The LBA is focusing on the climatological, ecological, biogeochemical, and hydrological functioning of Amazonia, the impact of land use change on these functions, and the interactions between Amazonia and the Earth.

We felt very happy and privileged to have had a chance to meet some of the people gathering this important information for understanding the Amazon. During our visit we learned how important the Amazon is not only as a habitat but also as a climate regulator and the visit to INPA/LBA turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences in the trip so far.

Thanks a lot for that!

21 comments. Tags: Asa. Location: Manaus, Brazil