The findings have been published in the journal Nature in a paper signed by researchers at the University of Leeds (UK) who combined data on deforestation and precipitation to show that tree cover loss in the tropics is associated with a reduction over the past 14 year. in the rain.
Callum Smith, lead author of the study, says the research provides “convincing evidence” for protecting forests from uncontrolled deforestation.
Residents of tropical forests complain that the climate is warmer and drier when trees are felled, the University of Leeds said in a statement. “Until now, scientists have been unable to establish a clear link between tree cover loss and reduced precipitation.”
In this article, scientists analyzed the effects of forest loss in the Amazon, Congo and Southeast Asia, which are experiencing rapid land-use changes.
Analysis of satellite observations from 2003 to 2017 is included to determine where forests have been cleared.
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Again, the precipitation data in these areas, measured by satellite, were compared with data from nearby areas where no forest was lost.
The study found that the loss of tropical forests leads to less precipitation year-round, even during the dry season.
However, the largest absolute decrease was recorded during the rainy season, with a decrease of up to 0.6 millimeters per month for every percentage point of forest cover loss.
For example, scientists estimate that precipitation could fall by 8% to 12% by the end of the century if deforestation continues in Congo.
In the paper, the researchers warn that the climate crisis will lead to more droughts, which will be exacerbated by continued deforestation.
The loss of tree cover is believed to interrupt the process by which moisture from the leaves – through a mechanism called evapotranspiration – is returned to the atmosphere, where it eventually forms rain clouds.
Evaporation is a strong driver of regional precipitation, accounting for 41% of average rainfall in the Amazon basin and about 50% in Congo.
In addition, the team says that for every 1% less rainfall, crop yields fall by an average of 0.5%.
“Research Shows Tropical Forests Are Critical to Sustaining Precipitation”Stresses Dominick Spraclen, who believes deforestation in the tropics continues despite efforts to halt deforestation.
For this reason, “Renewed efforts are needed to halt forest loss and revitalize lost and degraded areas.”
Source: Ultimahora
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Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
