New research shows that the world’s forests play an even greater and more complex role than previously thought in tackling climate change. This is due to their physical effects upon global and local temperatures.
It is well known that forests act as carbon sponges. Comprehensive new data shows that forests provide climate benefits beyond just carbon storage. They help keep air cool and moist because of the way they transform energy into water.
The study, which is first to determine non-carbon dioxide benefits from different forests, found that the region of tropical rainforests that spans Latin America, central Africa, South-east Asia and the Caribbean generates the most local and international benefits.
Researchers from the US, Colombia and Colombia discovered that overall forests can keep the planet at least half a degree Celsius warmer when carbon dioxide and biophysical effects such as turbulence and reflection of light are combined.
The cooling effect is greater in the tropics of Brazil, Guatemala, Chad, Cameroon, and Indonesia. All forests have multiple benefits, but some are more important than others to maintain a stable climate.
Louis Verchot is principal scientist at The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), and coauthor of the study The Unseen Benefits of Forest Deforestation: Biophysical Impacts on Climate. Forests are crucial for adaptation as well as mitigation.
Deforestation has devastating consequences for biodiversity, food security, global heating, and global warming. A recent report by The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate ChangeWarnings were issued about the dire consequences of rising temperatures for humanity.
The journal published the findings. Frontiers in Forests and Global ChangeAccording to, forests are essential for mitigation and adaptation, cooling our air, and protecting us against droughts, extreme heat, and floods that can be caused by climate change.
Forest cooling is caused by a variety biophysical effects, including the physical aspect of the tree wood, leaves, density, and carbon, as well as biochemical factors like the carbon.
Researchers discovered that forests produce chemicals called biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOCs), which can create aerosols that reflect inward energy and form clouds. Both of these are cooling effects. They also cause a buildup in two greenhouse gases, methane and ozone, but the cooling outweighs this.
For forests to withstand extreme heat, they must have deep roots, efficient water use, and what is called canopy roughness.
These physical properties allow trees to move heat, moisture and other elements away from the Earth’s surface where they live. This directly cools the area and influences cloud formation and rain.
The biophysical effects of forests increase carbon benefits in the tropics, which are the highest areas for forest carbon storage and sequestration rates. Tropical deforestation increases extreme heat locally and decreases rainfall.
Deborah Lawrence, a University of Virginia professor and lead author, stated that although the biophysical factors don’t cool the planet they do change how we experience heat. These forests are crucial for our survival and the heart of all the tropics.
Many experts consider improved protection, expansion, management and management of the forests around the world to be the most promising solutions based on nature.
Michael Coe is the Woodwell Climate Research Center’s director for the tropics and co-author of the study. He stated: Without the forest cover that we have now, the world would be hotter and more extreme. We have forest cover to protect us from the worst-case scenario of global warming.