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Observed increase in local cooling effect of deforestation at higher latitudes

Author

Listed:
  • Xuhui Lee

    (School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University)

  • Michael L. Goulden

    (University of California)

  • David Y. Hollinger

    (USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station)

  • Alan Barr

    (Environment Canada, Saskatoon, S7N 3H5, Canada)

  • T. Andrew Black

    (Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4, Canada)

  • Gil Bohrer

    (Ohio State University)

  • Rosvel Bracho

    (School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida)

  • Bert Drake

    (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center)

  • Allen Goldstein

    (Policy and Management, University of California)

  • Lianhong Gu

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • Gabriel Katul

    (Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Science, Duke University)

  • Thomas Kolb

    (School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University)

  • Beverly E. Law

    (College of Forestry, Oregon State University)

  • Hank Margolis

    (Centre d’Étude de la Forêt, Faculté de Foresterie, de Géographie et de Géomatique, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada)

  • Tilden Meyers

    (NOAA/ARL/ATDD)

  • Russell Monson

    (University of Colorado)

  • William Munger

    (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University)

  • Ram Oren

    (Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Science, Duke University)

  • Kyaw Tha Paw U

    (Air and Water Resources, University of California)

  • Andrew D. Richardson

    (Harvard University)

  • Hans Peter Schmid

    (Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe Institute for Technology, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany)

  • Ralf Staebler

    (Processes Research Section, Environment Canada, Toronto, Ontario, M3H 5T4, Canada)

  • Steven Wofsy

    (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University)

  • Lei Zhao

    (School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University)

Abstract

Cooling effect of deforestation Climate models have long suggested that the conversion of forest to grasslands or crops could create a cooling effect, through an increase in surface albedo. But so far, no study encompassing a large climate and geographical reach has demonstrated that the effect exists. Xuhui Lee and colleagues now combine temperature data from forested eddy covariance towers and nearby cleared sites and demonstrate a cooling effect approaching 1 °C northwards of 45 °N. The effect decreases with decreasing latitude and may be become positive south of 35 °N.

Suggested Citation

  • Xuhui Lee & Michael L. Goulden & David Y. Hollinger & Alan Barr & T. Andrew Black & Gil Bohrer & Rosvel Bracho & Bert Drake & Allen Goldstein & Lianhong Gu & Gabriel Katul & Thomas Kolb & Beverly E. L, 2011. "Observed increase in local cooling effect of deforestation at higher latitudes," Nature, Nature, vol. 479(7373), pages 384-387, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:479:y:2011:i:7373:d:10.1038_nature10588
    DOI: 10.1038/nature10588
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    Cited by:

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    2. 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.
    3. Shenghui Zhou & Ke Wang & Shiqi Yang & Wenli Li & Yuxuan Zhang & Bin Zhang & Yiming Fu & Xiaoyan Liu & Yadi Run & Oliva Gabriel Chubwa & Guosong Zhao & Jinwei Dong & Yaoping Cui, 2020. "Warming Effort and Energy Budget Difference of Various Human Land Use Intensity: Case Study of Beijing, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-15, August.
    4. Guanghui Yuan & Yu Zhang & Erchen Li & Yubao Liu, 2023. "Effects of Different Land Use Types on Soil Surface Temperature in the Heihe River Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-18, February.
    5. Jingmeng Wang & Wei Li & Philippe Ciais & Laurent Z. X. Li & Jinfeng Chang & Daniel Goll & Thomas Gasser & Xiaomeng Huang & Narayanappa Devaraju & Olivier Boucher, 2021. "Global cooling induced by biophysical effects of bioenergy crop cultivation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    6. Han, Yini & Jin, Songheng & Chen, Wenjing & Zhan, Misha & Yuan, Zheng & Wang, Xiao & Bai, Shangbin, 2022. "Biophysical controls on energy exchange and water use efficiency over a poplar plantation in Northern Hilly China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    7. Yi Zou & Yimei Wang & Yanhu He & Lirong Zhu & Shiyu Xue & Xu Liang & Changqing Ye, 2024. "Soil Erosion Characteristics in Tropical Island Watersheds Based on CSLE Model: Discussion of Driving Mechanisms," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-19, February.
    8. Daniel Richards & Mahyar Masoudi & Rachel R. Y. Oh & Erik S. Yando & Jingyuan Zhang & Daniel A. Friess & Adrienne Grêt-Regamey & Puay Yok Tan & Peter J. Edwards, 2019. "Global Variation in Climate, Human Development, and Population Density Has Implications for Urban Ecosystem Services," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-14, November.
    9. Jiang, Junxia & Gao, Xiaoqing & Lv, Qingquan & Li, Zhenchao & Li, Peidu, 2021. "Observed impacts of utility-scale photovoltaic plant on local air temperature and energy partitioning in the barren areas," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 157-169.
    10. Lingke Wu & Dehong Liu & Tiantian Lin, 2023. "The Impact of Climate Change on Financial Stability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-18, July.
    11. 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).
    12. Jean-Sébastien Landry & Navin Ramankutty, 2015. "Carbon Cycling, Climate Regulation, and Disturbances in Canadian Forests: Scientific Principles for Management," Land, MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-36, January.
    13. Melania Michetti & Matteo Zampieri, 2014. "Climate–Human–Land Interactions: A Review of Major Modelling Approaches," Land, MDPI, vol. 3(3), pages 1-41, July.
    14. Temesgen Alemayehu Abera & Janne Heiskanen & Eduardo Eiji Maeda & Mohammed Ahmed Muhammed & Netra Bhandari & Ville Vakkari & Binyam Tesfaw Hailu & Petri K. E. Pellikka & Andreas Hemp & Pieter G. Zyl &, 2024. "Deforestation amplifies climate change effects on warming and cloud level rise in African montane forests," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    15. 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.
    16. Heli Lu & Guifang Liu, 2014. "Recent Observations of Human-induced Asymmetric Effects on Climate in Very High-Altitude Area," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(1), pages 1-12, January.
    17. Xu Lian & Sujong Jeong & Chang-Eui Park & Hao Xu & Laurent Z. X. Li & Tao Wang & Pierre Gentine & Josep Peñuelas & Shilong Piao, 2022. "Biophysical impacts of northern vegetation changes on seasonal warming patterns," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    18. 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.

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