Solar energy dissipation and temperature control by water and plants

Pokorný, Jan; Brom, Jakub; Čermák, Jan; Hesslerová, Petra; Huryna, Hanna; Nadezhdina, Nadia; Rejšková, Alžběta

doi:10.1504/ijw.2010.038726

Cited by 51 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…In any case, those concerned with temperature recognise 1) that around half the solar energy that falls on land is converted into the evaporation of water thus cooling the land surface (Pokorny et al 2010;Wang and Dickinson 2012), 2) that water vapour is the dominant greenhouse gas on our planet (Ravishankara 2012;Sherwood et al 2010) and 3) that the distribution of clouds and snow cover exert a major influence on planetary albedo (the proportion of incident light reflected back into space) and energy balance (Donohoe and Battisti 2011;. Those concerned with carbon recognise that water is the most limiting factor for terrestrial ecosystem carbon uptake, and that uncertainties over water imply uncertainties over biomass and carbon fixation (Polis 1999;Good et al 2013;Bernacchi and VanLoocke 2015;Thorley et al 2015;Viglizzo et al 2016;Taylor et al 2017;Zhu et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forests, atmospheric water and an uncertain future: the new biology of the global water cycle

Sheil

2018

For. Ecosyst.

140

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Theory and evidence indicate that trees and other vegetation influence the atmospheric water-cycle in various ways. These influences are more important, more complex, and more poorly characterised than is widely realised. While there is little doubt that changes in tree cover will impact the water-cycle, the wider consequences remain difficult to predict as the underlying relationships and processes remain poorly characterised. Nonetheless, as forests are vulnerable to human activities, these linked aspects of the water-cycle are also at risk and the potential consequences of large scale forest loss are severe. Here, for non-specialist readers, I review our knowledge of the links between vegetation-cover and climate with a focus on forests and rain (precipitation). I highlight advances, uncertainties and research opportunities. There are significant shortcomings in our understanding of the atmospheric hydrological cycle and of its representation in climate models. A better understanding of the role of vegetation and tree-cover will reduce some of these shortcomings. I outline and illustrate various research themes where these advances may be found. These themes include the biology of evaporation, aerosols and atmospheric motion, as well as the processes that determine monsoons and diurnal precipitation cycles. A novel theory-the 'biotic pump'-suggests that evaporation and condensation can exert a major influence over atmospheric dynamics. This theory explains how high rainfall can be maintained within those continental land-masses that are sufficiently forested. Feedbacks within many of these processes can result in non-linear behaviours and the potential for dramatic changes as a result of forest loss (or gain): for example, switching from a wet to a dry local climate (or visa-versa). Much remains unknown and multiple research disciplines are needed to address this: forest scientists and other biologists have a major role to play. New ideas, methods and data offer opportunities to improve understanding. Expect surprises.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forests, atmospheric water and an uncertain future: the new biology of the global water cycle

Sheil

2018

For. Ecosyst.

140

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“…This interdependence indicates the ability of vegetation cover to retain water and release it by transpiration, with heat being consumed and the environment cooling down [30]. The cooling down of the environment through the transformation of heat into latent heat of evaporation and the formation of undergrowth microclimate lead to the stabilisation of the temperature regime of the landscape [31,32,33].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of vegetation cover on temperature and humidity properties in the reclaimed area of a brown coal dump

Procházka

Brom

Št'astný

et al. 2011

International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment

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Vegetation cover of the landscape plays an important role in the transformation of solar energy and the formation of microclimate in the landscape. A study carried out in the Velka´podkrusˇnohorska´brown coal dump (Czech Republic) focused on the impact of the structure and functions of landscape cover on temperature and humidity properties in nine localities with various states of vegetation cover. The development of temperature and relative humidity measured in various levels (temperature and relative humidity at 2 m and at canopy level; temperature on soil surface and at the depth of 0.1 m below soil surface) were assessed for the period of 1 July 2010-14 July 2010 and an evaluation of the Landsat 5 TM satellite data, collected on 10 July 2010, was carried out. Temperature development varied between the individual localities mostly at soil surface and in the ground; however, air temperatures and humidity were very similar at a height of 2 m. Extreme values of temperatures were measured on surfaces lacking vegetation cover or covered with sparse vegetation, in particular. On the basis of satellite data analysis, we determined the differences between the amounts of vegetation, temperatures and humidity values depending on the type of landscape cover and the stage of reclamation. The study results proved the significant impact of vegetation on the transformation of falling solar energy and the formation of microclimate, and thus the importance of fast regeneration of functional vegetation cover in the surfaces newly forming in former brown coal mines.

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“…As shown by E. Odum [5,6], self-organized succession processes culminate in climax natural forests as best solar energy dissipaters and highest energy efficiency users. Forest-driven atmospheric water and energy changes govern (by evapotranspiration, condensation and precipitation) water availability on continents [26][27][28]. In the following examples and tables, we want to underline that evapotranspiration (ET) is the most significant irreplaceable energy flow in nature, and that the principles for quantifying it have been known since the mid 20th century.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Achieving Sustainable Valuations of Biotopes and Ecosystem Services

2018

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The results of a broader notion of value for measuring ecosystem services (ESs) are presented, as recently demanded by R. Costanza, with attention to the biophysical, thermodynamic aspects of value. The unifying basis in any ecosystem is the solar energy inflow and the growing efficiency of its use with higher stages of self-organized succession processes. The authors utilize two methods of nonmarket valuation (Biotope Valuation Method, Energy-Water-Vegetation Method) which show the range of the environmental values of nature, from how costly it is for nations to restore the quality of a landscape (biotopes as specific habitats for specific species) to their real abilities to replace the core supporting and regulating services of ecosystems (climatizing service, water-retention service, oxygen production, habitats for biodiversity). The role of natural forests and wetlands as the most effective solar energy users is shown and compared with agricultural lands and other human-altered ecosystem groups. A comparison of ESs value ratios with the welfare-method results of Costanza’s team shows much higher importance of natural forests as the best climatic and water regulators in sustainable landscape decision-making. The authors show that it is not the replacement-cost method that overestimates, but rather, preferential methods that underestimate the values of ESs.

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Solar energy dissipation and temperature control by water and plants

Cited by 51 publications

References 26 publications

Forests, atmospheric water and an uncertain future: the new biology of the global water cycle

Forests, atmospheric water and an uncertain future: the new biology of the global water cycle

The impact of vegetation cover on temperature and humidity properties in the reclaimed area of a brown coal dump

Achieving Sustainable Valuations of Biotopes and Ecosystem Services

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