Local cooling and warming effects of forests based on satellite observations
Peking University · University of Maryland, College Park · +2 more institutions
Abstract
The biophysical effects of forests on climate have been extensively studied with climate models. However, models cannot accurately reproduce local climate effects due to their coarse spatial resolution and uncertainties, and field observations are valuable but often insufficient due to their limited coverage. Here we present new evidence acquired from global satellite data to analyse the biophysical effects of forests on local climate. Results show that tropical forests have a strong cooling effect throughout the year; temperate forests show moderate cooling in summer and moderate warming in winter with net cooling annually; and boreal forests have strong warming in winter and moderate cooling in summer with…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 28.00
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 56
Authors
6- YLYan LiCorresponding
Peking University, University of Maryland, College Park
- MZMaosheng Zhao
University of Maryland, College Park
- SMSafa Motesharrei
National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center, University of Maryland, College Park
- QMQiaozhen Mu
University of Maryland, College Park, University of Montana
- EKEugenia Kalnay
University of Maryland, College Park
Topics & keywords
- Environmental science
- Global warming
- Climatology
- Climate change
- Evapotranspiration
- Temperate climate
- Snow
- Albedo (alchemy)
- Climate action