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Tropical deforestation causes large reductions in observed precipitation
C Smith1, J C A Baker2, D V Spracklen2
1School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. ee13c2s@leeds.ac.uk.
Nature
|March 1, 2023
Summary
Tropical deforestation significantly reduces rainfall across the tropics, with impacts intensifying at larger spatial scales. Conserving tropical forests is vital for maintaining regional climate stability and precipitation patterns.
Area of Science:
- Climatology
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Tropical forests are crucial components of the global hydrological cycle.
- Previous research on tropical deforestation's impact on precipitation was limited to localized case studies.
- A comprehensive analysis of deforestation-precipitation interactions across various spatial scales is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a pan-tropical assessment of the relationship between tropical deforestation and precipitation.
- To investigate how deforestation impacts precipitation across different spatial scales.
- To project future precipitation changes due to deforestation in specific regions like the Congo.
Main Methods:
- Utilized satellite, station-based, and reanalysis datasets for a pan-tropical analysis.
- Examined forest loss from 2003 to 2017 to assess precipitation changes.
- Analyzed precipitation responses to deforestation across spatial scales up to 200 km.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a significant reduction in precipitation over deforested areas across the tropics.
- Found that the impact of deforestation on precipitation increases with scale, with robust reductions observed beyond 50 km.
- Identified the greatest precipitation declines at 200 km scale, where 1% forest loss decreased monthly precipitation by 0.25 ± 0.1 mm.
Conclusions:
- Tropical deforestation leads to substantial precipitation reductions, particularly at larger spatial scales.
- Discrepancies in reanalysis and station data highlight the need for improved tropical precipitation monitoring.
- Projected future deforestation in the Congo could lead to significant local precipitation decreases (8-10% by 2100), underscoring the importance of forest conservation for climate resilience.
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