Search Results
matter (SOM) destroys soil structure, leading to low crop yields. A better understanding of the processes, rates, causes, and consequences of land-use and land-cover change is vital for many areas of global change research. Land-use and land-cover change are sources and sinks for most of the material and energy flow that are of importance to the biosphere and geosphere. Land uses account for about 40% of net primary productivity of the Earth ( Vitousek et al. 1997 ), whereas land-cover change has a
matter (SOM) destroys soil structure, leading to low crop yields. A better understanding of the processes, rates, causes, and consequences of land-use and land-cover change is vital for many areas of global change research. Land-use and land-cover change are sources and sinks for most of the material and energy flow that are of importance to the biosphere and geosphere. Land uses account for about 40% of net primary productivity of the Earth ( Vitousek et al. 1997 ), whereas land-cover change has a
1. Introduction Land surface albedo is a major driver of climate change ( Bonan 2008 ; Wielicki et al. 2005 ), but climate models rarely incorporate projected albedo changes from future land use ( Oleson et al. 2003 ; Tian et al. 2004 ). This is largely because of a continued poor understanding of the historic drivers of albedo change. Certain land-cover transitions, such as boreal and tropical deforestation, drive relatively well understood albedo changes that have been evaluated
1. Introduction Land surface albedo is a major driver of climate change ( Bonan 2008 ; Wielicki et al. 2005 ), but climate models rarely incorporate projected albedo changes from future land use ( Oleson et al. 2003 ; Tian et al. 2004 ). This is largely because of a continued poor understanding of the historic drivers of albedo change. Certain land-cover transitions, such as boreal and tropical deforestation, drive relatively well understood albedo changes that have been evaluated
structure alters the turbulent transfer of energy through roughness elements. Its optical properties alter the net solar radiation absorbed by the canopy and its physiological activity controls the partitioning of the incoming energy into turbulent fluxes. The impact of land cover change on climate has been explored in previous studies (e.g., Dickinson and Kennedy 1992 ; Zhang et al. 1996 ; Collatz et al. 2000 ; Costa and Foley 2000 ; Bounoua et al. 2002 ; Zhao and Pitman 2002 ; Nobre et al. 2004
structure alters the turbulent transfer of energy through roughness elements. Its optical properties alter the net solar radiation absorbed by the canopy and its physiological activity controls the partitioning of the incoming energy into turbulent fluxes. The impact of land cover change on climate has been explored in previous studies (e.g., Dickinson and Kennedy 1992 ; Zhang et al. 1996 ; Collatz et al. 2000 ; Costa and Foley 2000 ; Bounoua et al. 2002 ; Zhao and Pitman 2002 ; Nobre et al. 2004
1. Introduction Historically, the climate system has been considered to be primarily an atmosphere–ocean problem by global climate and regional climate modelers. In the early 1990s, global climate models included the atmosphere, oceans, sea ice, and a physical representation of the Earth's surface ( Albritton et al., 2001 ), and experiments using these global models that explored the impact of regional-scale land-cover change simply modified land surface parameter values to reflect a change in
1. Introduction Historically, the climate system has been considered to be primarily an atmosphere–ocean problem by global climate and regional climate modelers. In the early 1990s, global climate models included the atmosphere, oceans, sea ice, and a physical representation of the Earth's surface ( Albritton et al., 2001 ), and experiments using these global models that explored the impact of regional-scale land-cover change simply modified land surface parameter values to reflect a change in
1. Introduction Like all human–Earth interactions, urban land-cover changes represent a response to socioeconomic, political, demographic, and environmental conditions, largely characterized by a concentration of human populations ( Masek et al. 2000 ; He et al. 2008 ). Although total urban area covers a very small fraction of the Earth’s land surface, urban expansion is believed to have significantly impacted the natural landscape, producing enormous changes in the environment and
1. Introduction Like all human–Earth interactions, urban land-cover changes represent a response to socioeconomic, political, demographic, and environmental conditions, largely characterized by a concentration of human populations ( Masek et al. 2000 ; He et al. 2008 ). Although total urban area covers a very small fraction of the Earth’s land surface, urban expansion is believed to have significantly impacted the natural landscape, producing enormous changes in the environment and
1. Introduction The significance of the impacts of historical land-cover change (LCC) on the present-day climate of Australia has been investigated by Narisma and Pitman ( Narisma and Pitman 2003 ) and Pitman et al. ( Pitman et al. 2004 ). Their results showed that LCC may account for a substantial part of the regional long-term weather changes over Australia in the last two centuries, including changes in temperature and rainfall. The significance of these results has established the important
1. Introduction The significance of the impacts of historical land-cover change (LCC) on the present-day climate of Australia has been investigated by Narisma and Pitman ( Narisma and Pitman 2003 ) and Pitman et al. ( Pitman et al. 2004 ). Their results showed that LCC may account for a substantial part of the regional long-term weather changes over Australia in the last two centuries, including changes in temperature and rainfall. The significance of these results has established the important
et al. 2011 ; Hossain et al. 2012 ) points to the effects of large dams on changing the extreme precipitation patterns such as probable maximum precipitation (PMP). The probable maximum flood (PMF), which is an important factor for hydraulic design of dams, is dependent on PMP and the hydrology of the watershed. A key driver for modification of PMP and PMF during the postdam phase is the land-use/land-cover (LULC) change patterns that are both sensitive to mesoscale weather and surface
et al. 2011 ; Hossain et al. 2012 ) points to the effects of large dams on changing the extreme precipitation patterns such as probable maximum precipitation (PMP). The probable maximum flood (PMF), which is an important factor for hydraulic design of dams, is dependent on PMP and the hydrology of the watershed. A key driver for modification of PMP and PMF during the postdam phase is the land-use/land-cover (LULC) change patterns that are both sensitive to mesoscale weather and surface
much less common in crops and grasses (e.g., Guenther et al. 1995 ). It is therefore expected that future biogenic isoprene emissions will change as climate and land cover changes. For example, increases in temperatures will lead to increased isoprene emissions. Also, as forested areas are converted to croplands, savannahs, and grasslands, isoprene emissions in those regions are expected to decrease. Potential changes and impacts of biogenic isoprene emissions must be considered as we evaluate
much less common in crops and grasses (e.g., Guenther et al. 1995 ). It is therefore expected that future biogenic isoprene emissions will change as climate and land cover changes. For example, increases in temperatures will lead to increased isoprene emissions. Also, as forested areas are converted to croplands, savannahs, and grasslands, isoprene emissions in those regions are expected to decrease. Potential changes and impacts of biogenic isoprene emissions must be considered as we evaluate
issues that Pielke (2002) raises is the impact of anthropogenic land cover change on climate. Pielke et al. (1998) discuss the many short- and long-term processes that connect the terrestrial ecosystem and overlying atmosphere; they assert that, “In studies of past and possible future climate change, terrestrial ecosystem dynamics are as important as changes in atmospheric dynamics and composition, ocean circulation, ice sheet extent, and orbital perturbations” (460–4611). We use the Geophysical
issues that Pielke (2002) raises is the impact of anthropogenic land cover change on climate. Pielke et al. (1998) discuss the many short- and long-term processes that connect the terrestrial ecosystem and overlying atmosphere; they assert that, “In studies of past and possible future climate change, terrestrial ecosystem dynamics are as important as changes in atmospheric dynamics and composition, ocean circulation, ice sheet extent, and orbital perturbations” (460–4611). We use the Geophysical
. Tropical coastal areas represent an interesting case in which global, regional, and local effects converge. However, studies of land-cover and land-use (LCLU) changes in these locations have been very limited. It was recently reported in a series of atmospheric modeling studies that low-land deforestation is leading to increases in cloud-base heights and thinner clouds in rain forests in Central America ( Lawton et al. 2001 ; Nair et al. 2003 ; Ray et al. 2006 ), which is resulting in increases of
. Tropical coastal areas represent an interesting case in which global, regional, and local effects converge. However, studies of land-cover and land-use (LCLU) changes in these locations have been very limited. It was recently reported in a series of atmospheric modeling studies that low-land deforestation is leading to increases in cloud-base heights and thinner clouds in rain forests in Central America ( Lawton et al. 2001 ; Nair et al. 2003 ; Ray et al. 2006 ), which is resulting in increases of
