Amazon Tipping Point

Forest-savanna bistability via moisture recycling feedback

The Amazon generates ~50% of its own rainfall via moisture recycling. This creates a positive feedback: more forest → more evapotranspiration → more rainfall → more forest. The model dF/dt = F(r(F) − D) − γF(1−F) exhibits bistability. Rainfall r(F) = r₀ + α·F. At a critical deforestation rate D_c, the forest state disappears (saddle-node bifurcation). Hysteresis: recovery requires much lower D than the tipping point.