World Rivers Review, Vol. 23, No. 3 - Sept. 2008

Cover story: Amazon Powers Carbon Sink

The Amazon River is a powerful carbon sink, new research reveals. A plume of nutrients carried by the river reaches hundreds to thousands of kilometers out into the Atlantic Ocean. This plume supports organisms that convert atmospheric CO₂ into carbon and sink upon death, resulting in the long-term storage of carbon on the ocean floor. The lead scientist for the research team notes that dam construction will reduce the carbon drawdown.

Read our article about this phenonemon by International Rivers' new climate campaigner, Payal Parekh.

• Download the full September 2008 issue to read this and other stories listed below.

What's inside:

• Commentary: The value of a healthy Mekong River.
  
• Making Waves: News and notes on the worldwide movement to protect rivers.
• Africa: Are African energy investments on the right track?
• World Expo: The spotlight is on river defenders and dam-affected people at the water-themed World Expo in Zaragoza, Spain.
  
• Turkey: Interview – Talking with a Turkish activist working to stop Ilisu Dam.
  
• Laos: What Laos' dam boom means for rivers.
  
• California: Interview – A US water expert describes alternatives to new California dams.
  
• New Zealand: Fighting to save Mokihinui River gorge from a proposed hydro dam.
  
• News Briefs: All the river news that's fit to print.
• India and Nepal: Millions have been flooded out by embankments that failed to hold back the Kosi River.
  
• China: The Sichuan earthquake puts the spotlight on dam safety in China.

Carbon-eating machine: The Amazon River meets the sea (Norman Kuring/NASA)