Possible climatic impact of tropical deforestation

Potter, Gerald L.; Ellsaesser, Hugh W.; MacCracken, Michael C.; Luther, F. M.

doi:10.1038/258697a0

Cited by 78 publications

(32 citation statements)

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“…There is now a scientific consensus that the relative contribution of anthropogenic factors to the change in natural climate is not negligible (Hare, 1993;Wigley, 1999). Modelling exercises carried out to date have clearly shown that large-scale changes in land-use characteristics can generate climate change on local and regional scales (Rotter et al, 1975;Sud et al, 1993;Eltahir & Bras, 1993, 1994 Hulme & Kelly (1993) and Briggs et al, (1997) elaborated on the effects of modifying surface characteristics. Destruction of the permanent vegetation cover increases surface albedo (reflectivity), thus reducing the surface absorption of solar energy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Recent trends and anomalies in mean seasonal and annual temperatures over Sudan

Elagib

Mansell

2000

Journal of Arid Environments

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Recent trends and anomalies in mean seasonal and annual temperatures over Sudan

Elagib

Mansell

2000

Journal of Arid Environments

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“…Comparatively few experiments have been designed specifically to test model sensitivity to aspects of tropical deforestation. Potter et al (1975) considered the impact of increasing surface albedo in a portion of the tropical zone of the Lawrence Livermore 2D statistical dynamical model. Two perturbation experiments were performed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling the effects of albedo change associated with tropical deforestation

Mylne

Rowntree

1992

Climatic Change

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The effects in climate models of changes in albedo and soil moisture which are expected to follow from tropical deforestation are reviewed. The major results from experiments with tropical forest regions (a) forested ('Experiment F') and (b) grass-covered ('Experiment G') are compared over South America and Central Africa. Then, Experiment F is compared with 'Experiment 2' which has constant snowfree albedo of 0.2, close to that of grassland; in both South America and Zaire regions, the albedo changes for (G-F) and (2-F) are similar and, as Experiment 2 is an eight year run, assessments of the statistical significance can be made.The results for December to February and March to May show a decrease of rainfall over the Amazon region and also to the southeast outside the area which has changed albedos in (G-F). These decreases are common to both (G-F) and (2-F) and are statistically significant in the comparison with the eight year record for Experiment 2. Deforestation in the Zalre regions is associated with similar changes, which, though less extensive, are generally larger in relation to the albedo changes. In June to August, changes are small south of the equator because the rainbelt has moved north; in South America larger, significant decreases are obtained north of the equator.The drying with increased albedo is due to decreases in both evaporation and moisture convergence. The decreases in evaporation result both from a reduction in absorbed energy at the surface and an increase in surface resistance to evaporation due to greater soil moisture deficits arising from earlier decreases in rainfall.

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“…The realization that deforestation has become an ecological crisis has led to extensive efforts to monitor the actual condition of the tropical rain forest and its decline (U.S. Government, 1980;Woodwell et al, 1987) and to investigate its possible effects on the biosphere and climate (Bolin, 1977;Gentry andLopez-Parodi, 1980, 1982;Woodwell et at, 1978Woodwell et at, , 1983Potter et al, 1975;Lettau et al, 1979;Dickinson, 1987).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%