Increased windthrow events in the Amazon since 1985

Windthrows are trees uprooted or snapped by strong winds. By comparing satellite images from subsequent years, we mapped windthrows ≥ 30 ha in size across the entire Amazon Basin for each year from 1985 to 2020.  We found a nearly 4-fold increase in windthrows over the past 35 years, providing evidence of increased storm activity with implications for forest structure and carbon storage.