Decreased cloud cover partially offsets the cooling effects of surface albedo change due to deforestation.

ABSTRACT: Biophysical processes of forests affect climate through the regulation of surface water and heat fluxes, which leads to further effects through the adjustment of clouds and water cycles. These indirect biophysical effects of forests on clouds and their radiative forcing are poorly understood but highly relevant in the context of large-scale deforestation or afforestation, respectively. Here, we provide evidence for local decreases in global low-level clouds and tropical high-level clouds from deforestation through both idealized deforestation simulations with climate models and from observations-driven reanalysis using space-for-time substitution. The decreased cloud cover can be explained by alterations in surface turbulent heat flux, which diminishes uplift and moisture to varying extent

SUBMITTER: Luo H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11347566 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature