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Local cooling and warming effects of forests based on satellite observations

Author

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  • Yan Li

    (College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University
    University of Maryland
    Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of The Ministry of Education, Peking University
    The Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland)

  • Maosheng Zhao

    (University of Maryland)

  • Safa Motesharrei

    (The Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland
    University of Maryland, College Park
    National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC))

  • Qiaozhen Mu

    (University of Maryland
    Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group, University of Montana)

  • Eugenia Kalnay

    (University of Maryland
    The Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland)

  • Shuangcheng Li

    (College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University
    Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of The Ministry of Education, Peking University)

Abstract

The biophysical effects of forests on climate have been extensively studied with climate models. However, models cannot accurately reproduce local climate effects due to their coarse spatial resolution and uncertainties, and field observations are valuable but often insufficient due to their limited coverage. Here we present new evidence acquired from global satellite data to analyse the biophysical effects of forests on local climate. Results show that tropical forests have a strong cooling effect throughout the year; temperate forests show moderate cooling in summer and moderate warming in winter with net cooling annually; and boreal forests have strong warming in winter and moderate cooling in summer with net warming annually. The spatiotemporal cooling or warming effects are mainly driven by the two competing biophysical effects, evapotranspiration and albedo, which in turn are strongly influenced by rainfall and snow. Implications of our satellite-based study could be useful for informing local forestry policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Yan Li & Maosheng Zhao & Safa Motesharrei & Qiaozhen Mu & Eugenia Kalnay & Shuangcheng Li, 2015. "Local cooling and warming effects of forests based on satellite observations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-8, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms7603
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7603
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Guoqing Chen & Mingjiu Wang & Zhengjia Liu & Wenfeng Chi, 2017. "The Biogeophysical Effects of Revegetation around Mining Areas: A Case Study of Dongsheng Mining Areas in Inner Mongolia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-9, April.
    2. Jan Vopravil & Pavel Formánek & Darina Heřmanovská & Tomáš Khel & Karel Jacko, 2022. "The impact of agricultural land afforestation on air temperatures near the surface," Journal of Forest Science, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 68(12), pages 485-495.
    3. Galina Churkina & Alan Organschi, 2022. "Will a Transition to Timber Construction Cool the Climate?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-8, April.
    4. Qun Liu & Zhaoping Yang & Cuirong Wang & Fang Han, 2019. "Temporal-Spatial Variations and Influencing Factor of Land Use Change in Xinjiang, Central Asia, from 1995 to 2015," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-14, January.
    5. Jonas Schwaab & Ronny Meier & Gianluca Mussetti & Sonia Seneviratne & Christine Bürgi & Edouard L. Davin, 2021. "The role of urban trees in reducing land surface temperatures in European cities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Yue Li & Paulo M. Brando & Douglas C. Morton & David M. Lawrence & Hui Yang & James T. Randerson, 2022. "Deforestation-induced climate change reduces carbon storage in remaining tropical forests," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    7. Ali Ismaeel & Amos P. K. Tai & Erone Ghizoni Santos & Heveakore Maraia & Iris Aalto & Jan Altman & Jiří Doležal & Jonas J. Lembrechts & José Luís Camargo & Juha Aalto & Kateřina Sam & Lair Cristina Av, 2024. "Patterns of tropical forest understory temperatures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    8. Yitao Li & Zhao-Liang Li & Hua Wu & Chenghu Zhou & Xiangyang Liu & Pei Leng & Peng Yang & Wenbin Wu & Ronglin Tang & Guo-Fei Shang & Lingling Ma, 2023. "Biophysical impacts of earth greening can substantially mitigate regional land surface temperature warming," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    9. Jun Ge & Qi Liu & Beilei Zan & Zhiqiang Lin & Sha Lu & Bo Qiu & Weidong Guo, 2022. "Deforestation intensifies daily temperature variability in the northern extratropics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.
    10. Duveiller, Gregory & Caporaso, Luca & Abad-Viñas, Raul & Perugini, Lucia & Grassi, Giacomo & Arneth, Almut & Cescatti, Alessandro, 2020. "Local biophysical effects of land use and land cover change: towards an assessment tool for policy makers," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    11. Abhijeet Mishra & Florian Humpenöder & Galina Churkina & Christopher P. O. Reyer & Felicitas Beier & Benjamin Leon Bodirsky & Hans Joachim Schellnhuber & Hermann Lotze-Campen & Alexander Popp, 2022. "Land use change and carbon emissions of a transformation to timber cities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    12. Hao Luo & Johannes Quaas & Yong Han, 2024. "Decreased cloud cover partially offsets the cooling effects of surface albedo change due to deforestation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.

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