Observed different impacts of potential tree restoration on local surface and air temperature.

ABSTRACT: Tree restoration can cool or warm the local climate through biophysical processes. However, the magnitude of these effects remains unconstrained at large scales, as most previous observational studies rely on land surface temperature (Ts) rather than the more policy-relevant air temperature (Ta). Using satellite observations, we show that Ta responds to tree cover change at only 15-30% of the magnitude observed in Ts. This difference is supported by independent evidence from site observations, and can be attributed to the reduced aerodynamic resistance and the resultant flatter near-surface temperature profiles in forests compared to non-forests. At mid- or high-latitudes, the maximum seasonal biophysical Ta warming or cooling only accounts for approximately 10% of the equivalent climate e

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11890605 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature