Hydrometeorological response to afforestation in the UK: findings from a kilometer-scale climate model

Abstract

Afforestation is of international interest for its positive benefits on carbon storage, ecology, and society, but its impacts on terrestrial and atmospheric processes are still poorly understood. This study presents the first use of a coupled land surface and convection permitting atmospheric model (CPM) to quantify hydrometeorological effects of afforestation across the United Kingdom, focusing on atmospheric processes often missing in hydrological models. Generating a scenario of 93 000 km2 (40%) additional woodland across the UK, the periods of 2042–2052 and 2062–2072 are analysed. Simulated afforestation alters seasonal and regional UK hydrometeorology. Countrywide runoff increases in all seasons (between 5.4–11 mm and 4.3–8.6% per season) due to elevated subsurface flows from greater soil moisture. Evaporation decreases in summer (−20.6 mm, −10%) but increases in winter (8.1 mm, 15%) whereas rainfall increases throughout all seasons (between 2.2–6.86 mm and 0.9%–2.2% per season). Greater winter rainfall is detected along Great Britain’s west coastline as increased surface roughness produces prolonged and heavier rainfall. In the summer, lower albedo increases potential evapotranspiration and reduces near surface specific humidity: water is locked in deeper soil layers as transpiration diminishes and the topsoil dries out. However, the magnitude of hydrometeorological change due to altered land cover is smaller than the uncertainty in local climate change projections. This work sets a precedent in illustrating the impacts of afforestation on hydrology using a high-resolution CPM and highlights the importance of coupled hydrometeorological processes when investigating land cover impacts on hydrological processes.