3 ms·
ELI5: Forests retain rainwater in the soil, replenish aquifers, cool the soil, nourish soil biodiversity, contribute to the formation of new rainfall, distribut
by myshpa 3y ago
ELI5: Forests retain rainwater in the soil, replenish aquifers, cool the soil, nourish soil biodiversity, contribute to the formation of new rainfall, distribute it inland, alter local microclimates, and sustain biodiversity.
With pastures, none of that applies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biotic_pump https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biotic_pump
- reducesuffering 3y agoSo you don’t know then? Like GP I am also more interested in specific details of the water cycle. A strictly X uses Y gallons of water, therefore bad, is entirely incomplete to deal with nuances like GP is talking about, where the water ends up. If evaporation and wind up to the Sierra means 90% comes right back down as groundwater, that net usage is an order of magnitude less, and some other area is still benefiting from more water.
- ProfessorLayton 3y agoTaking water out of the ground compacts the soil and that means water cannot come "right back down as groundwater" in anything resembling a human timescale.