April 17, 2007 | vol. 104 | no. 16 | G. Bala*, K. Caldeira*, M. Wickett*, T. J. Phillips*, D. B. Lobell*, C. Delire§, and A. Mirin*
The study investigates the combined effects of deforestation on the climate and carbon cycle using a three-dimensional coupled global carbon-cycle and climate model. The results show that while deforestation releases CO2, leading to a warming effect, the changes in land surface albedo, evapotranspiration, and cloud cover result in a net cooling influence on Earth's climate. Latitude-specific experiments indicate that afforestation projects in the tropics are beneficial for mitigating global warming, but they are counterproductive at high latitudes and offer marginal benefits in temperate regions. Despite these findings, forests remain valuable for various reasons unrelated to climate, such as providing habitats, preserving biodiversity, and protecting watersheds. The study highlights the need for comprehensive models to evaluate the carbon-cycle and biophysical effects of forests on climate and emphasizes the importance of preserving ecosystems for broader environmental benefits.The study investigates the combined effects of deforestation on the climate and carbon cycle using a three-dimensional coupled global carbon-cycle and climate model. The results show that while deforestation releases CO2, leading to a warming effect, the changes in land surface albedo, evapotranspiration, and cloud cover result in a net cooling influence on Earth's climate. Latitude-specific experiments indicate that afforestation projects in the tropics are beneficial for mitigating global warming, but they are counterproductive at high latitudes and offer marginal benefits in temperate regions. Despite these findings, forests remain valuable for various reasons unrelated to climate, such as providing habitats, preserving biodiversity, and protecting watersheds. The study highlights the need for comprehensive models to evaluate the carbon-cycle and biophysical effects of forests on climate and emphasizes the importance of preserving ecosystems for broader environmental benefits.