article_snippet: The last dry spell in 2010 saw the forest release eight billion tonnes - as much as the annual emissions of China and Russia Russia combined.
article_snippet: In an average year the basin absorbs about 1.5 billion tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere but prolonged dry spells are due to become more common.
article_snippet: This volume is the equivalent of 689,290 semi trucks filled with dust.
highlights_snippet: 2010 dry spell saw forest release 8 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide .
  
highlights_snippet: This is as much as annual emissions of China and Russia combined .
  