Biogeophysical feedbacks between land cover and climate

Abstract

The various vegetated biomes of the world affect climate through exchanges of energy, water, and momentum with the atmosphere. By altering net radiation, sensible heat, latent heat, and the hydrologic cycle, changes in land cover from one biome type to another, either through natural vegetation dynamics or human uses of land, can alter climate. Clearing of natural vegetation for agricultural uses is one means by which climate changes. Tropical deforestation and overgrazing of tropical grasslands warm climate, primarily through a strong reduction in evapotranspiration that offsets a moderate increase in surface albedo. Temperate deforestation cools climate, primarily through a moderate increase in albedo and a moderate increase in evapotranspiration. Boreal deforestation cools climate through a strong increase in surface albedo. The land surface models used with climate models are being further developed to include natural and human changes in land cover and their effects on climate.