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Plants don't provide "natural cooling". They naturally provide evaporator cooling. That is, they cool the surrounding area because they release water vapor. Dri
by HWR_14 4y ago
Plants don't provide "natural cooling". They naturally provide evaporator cooling. That is, they cool the surrounding area because they release water vapor. Drip irrigation is much better than other irrigation, but it doesn't change that growing trees and vines in the desert is wasteful.
- cassepipe 4y agoBut isn't the point of fighting desertifaction that since there is more shade, there's less evaporation and the little water that drops there accumulates in the soil supporting more vegetation and kicking off a virtuous cycle ? (I am no expert but that's what I assumed looking at counter-desertification projects)
- HWR_14 4y agoShade can be an important piece of it, but evapotranspiration (evaporation through the leaves) is responsible for 7-10 degrees of cooling in a normal environment. In a hot dry place probably even more. I think this is one of those "if the whole area is green, you get great effects. But that doesn't mean planting a garden in the desert does the same thing."