The main purpose of this ongoing blog will be to track planetary extreme, or record temperatures related to climate change. Any reports I see of ETs will be listed below the main topic of the day. I’ll refer to or record temperatures as ETs (not extraterrestrials).😉
Main Topic: Study Sheds New Light on Forests’ Role on Climate and the Water Cycle
Dear Diary. If you have been reading my diary posts, you know how much I’ve been harping on saving the planet’s forests. Over the past year the most alarming item forest wise is the Amazon drought, which is greatly exacerbating deforestation beyond logging and land clearing. All forest, whether they be in the Congo or vast tracks across North America, are under great stress from mankind. Without them carbon levels would spike out of control and air pollution would be choking our existence. Yes, I’m a proud tree hugger.
A new study has been brought to my attention that sheds more scientific light on how forests store carbon, clear the air, and affect the water cycle. This study and others are vital for scientists to use as tools to relate to the public how much we depend upon trees for the general health of the planet:
New study sheds new light on forests’ role in climate and water cycle
2/07/2024
Forests, which cover a third of Earth’s land surface, are pivotal in carbon storage and the water cycle, though the full scope of their impact remains to be fully understood. In a new study published in Nature Communications, researchers from Stockholm University and international colleagues provide new insights into the complex role forests play in the climate system and water cycle.
The research, involving scientists from 11 institutions across five countries, including Sweden, the UK, Finland, Germany, and Brazil, highlights the intricate relationship between forests, particularly their emission of organic gases, and the formation of reflective clouds that could influence global temperatures.
Comparing boreal and tropical forests
The unique aspect of this study is its focus on both boreal and tropical forests, which constitute 27% and 45% of the Earth’s forested area, respectively. These ecosystems differ in their emissions and cloud formation processes, leading to varying impacts on the forest-cloud-climate feedback loop.
“This study, utilizing long-term data from diverse forest environments in Finland and Brazil, marks the first time observational evidence has been presented for these interactions in tropical rainforests,” says lead author Sara Blichner, postdoctoral scientist at the Department of Environmental Science.
Underrepresentation of forests in climate models
The study emphasizes the need for improved climate models to accurately represent these complex interactions. “Our findings suggest that current models may underestimate the impact of forests on cloud formation and climate, especially in tropical regions, which are crucial due to high amount of solar radiation these areas receive at these latitudes,” Blichner explains.
Post-doctoral researcher Sara Blichner. Photo: Private
However, Blichner stresses that while the study highlights areas for improvement in climate modeling, it does not undermine the overall reliability of these models. “Climate models are highly trustworthy in representing the main processes of climate change. Our research aims to refine these models, reducing uncertainties in future climate projections,” she asserts.
Natural particles and global warming
The research also points out that as man-made particle emissions decrease due to air quality policies, the natural particles from forests become increasingly significant. These feedbacks are more potent in cleaner air environments and could play an important role in moderating global warming.
This collaborative study underscores the need for continued research and improvement in climate modeling to better predict future climate scenarios. Additionally, the findings highlight that these types of effects must be considered when assessing forest conservation as a key strategy in climate change mitigation.
About forest emissions and climate regulation
Forests release substantial amounts of organic gases, particularly noticeable as the distinctive scent of a pine forest on a warm day. These gases, once released into the atmosphere, contribute to particle formation.
Clouds are composed of minuscule water droplets and each of these droplets nucleate around a particle in the air. An increase in atmospheric particles results in clouds with more droplets, enhancing their reflectivity of sunlight and leading to cooler surface temperatures.
As climate change raises temperatures, forests are anticipated to emit more of these gases, thereby creating more particles and potentially more reflective clouds.
Read the article in Nature Communications
Here are more “ET’s” recorded from around the planet the last couple of days, their consequences, and some extreme temperature outlooks, as well as any extreme precipitation reports:
Here is more brand-new January 2024 climatology (Other January 2024 climatology is listed on prior daily posts.):
Here is More Climate News from Sunday:
(As usual, this will be a fluid post in which more information gets added during the day as it crosses my radar, crediting all who have put it on-line. Items will be archived on this site for posterity. In most instances click on the pictures of each tweet to see each article. The most noteworthy items will be listed first.)