Land-use study: greener land means cooler temperatures

Researchers say regional surface temperatures can be affected by land use, suggesting that local and regional strategies, such as creating green spaces and buffer zones in and around urban areas, could be a tool in addressing climate change.

 

A study by researchers from Purdue University and the universities of Colorado and Maryland concluded that greener land cover contributes to cooler temperatures, and almost any other change leads to warmer temperatures. The study, published on line and set to appear in the Royal Meteorological Society’s International Journal of Climatology later this year, is further evidence that land use should be better incorporated into computer models projecting future climate conditions.

 

“What the study highlighted is that a significant trend, particularly the warming trend in terms of temperatures, can also be partially explained by land-use change. That land use helps drive climate change has been poorly understood compared to factors such as greenhouse gas emissions. But that is changing. People realize that land use cover also is an important force and not only at the local but also at the regional scale.

The researchers used higher resolution temperature data than previous studies, meaning the data was more detailed. They also employed dynamic data on land-use changes from 1992-2001, which was derived from satellite imagery.

The researchers suggest that having an understanding of land use's affects on climate change could have climatic and other benefits. For instance, creating green spaces and buffer zones in and around urban areas also could be aesthetically attractive.

 

Among the study's findings:

• In general, the greener the land cover, the cooler is surface temperature.
• Conversion to agriculture results in cooling, while conversion from agriculture generally results in warming.
• Deforestation generally results in warming, with the exception of a shift from forest to agriculture. No clear picture emerged from the impact of planting or seeding new forests.
• Urbanization and conversion to bare soils have the largest warming impacts.
• In general, land use conversion often results in more warming than cooling.

 

The study took an approach called "observation minus reanalysis," or OMR. Through this process, the researchers used temperature data from local ground observations, observation and computer modeling, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and statistical methods. They were able to separate the effects of land use or cover from greenhouse warming and isolate the impact from each land use or cover type. The more detailed data provided a clearer picture of the effects of land surface properties on near-surface temperature trends.

 

While the effects of greenhouses gases like carbon dioxide are clear, the study does suggest land use needs to be considered carefully as well. Greenhouse warming is incredibly important, land use should not be neglected. It contributes to warming, especially in urban and desert areas.

 

According to the researchers, "unless these landscape effects are properly considered, the role of greenhouse warming in increasing surface temperatures will be significantly overstated."

 

Study abstract available here

Original article here