Effects of large-scale deforestation on precipitation in the monsoon regions: remote versus local effects

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
N DevarajuAngshuman Modak

Abstract

In this paper, using idealized climate model simulations, we investigate the biogeophysical effects of large-scale deforestation on monsoon regions. We find that the remote forcing from large-scale deforestation in the northern middle and high latitudes shifts the Intertropical Convergence Zone southward. This results in a significant decrease in precipitation in the Northern Hemisphere monsoon regions (East Asia, North America, North Africa, and South Asia) and moderate precipitation increases in the Southern Hemisphere monsoon regions (South Africa, South America, and Australia). The magnitude of the monsoonal precipitation changes depends on the location of deforestation, with remote effects showing a larger influence than local effects. The South Asian Monsoon region is affected the most, with 18% decline in precipitation over India. Our results indicate that any comprehensive assessment of afforestation/reforestation as climate change mitigation strategies should carefully evaluate the remote effects on monsoonal precipitation alongside the large local impacts on temperatures.

References

Dec 13, 2005·Science·Johannes J FeddemaWarren M Washington
Apr 11, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·G BalaA Mirin
Dec 23, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Abigail L S SwannJohn C H Chiang
Sep 5, 2014·Nature·Tapio SchneiderGerald H Haug

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Citations

Aug 22, 2015·Science·Simon L LewisDavid Galbraith
Jan 26, 2017·Scientific Reports·Niklas BoersJürgen Kurths
May 14, 2016·Nature·Mahyar MohtadiStephan Steinke
May 30, 2020·Science·Nate G McDowellChonggang Xu
May 2, 2018·The Science of the Total Environment·Palash SinhaJayantha Obeysekera

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