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Tree cover also decreases albedo, which increases the total solar energy absorbed. [0] I wonder if tree cover decreases local surface temperature (as described
by joshuanapoli 5y ago
Tree cover also decreases albedo, which increases the total solar energy absorbed. [0]
I wonder if tree cover decreases local surface temperature (as described in this article) while actually increasing global warming because less light is reflected back to space.
[0] https://www.climate-policy-watcher.org/vegetation/deforestation-and-the-little-ice-age.html https://www.climate-policy-watcher.org/vegetation/deforestat...
- CodeGlitch 5y agoBut wouldn't the plants and trees convert the sun's energy through photosynthesis into chemical energy? That energy conversion removes the heat.
- Cthulhu_ 5y agoSome, but 'removes the heat' is overly simplistic. They're not 100% efficient.
- marcus_holmes 5y agoPlant cover also increases evaporation (because the water get trapped by the plants on the surface), which increases warming (because water vapour is a very powerful greenhouse gas), but also reduces local temperatures (evaporation removes heat), and increases cloud cover (which reduces warming by increasing albedo). It's a very complex system, and working out the net effect is very difficult (as the paper says).