New study shows climate significance of land cover change

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/uniini/release.cfm?ArticleID=2004

For Immediate Release
November 2, 2009
Contacts: Lee Tune, 301 405 4679 or [e-mail]

Green Is Cool, But U.S. Land Changes Generally Are Not

New study shows climate significance of land cover change

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Most land-use changes occurring in the continental United States reduce vegetative cover and raise regional surface temperatures, says a new study by scientists at the University of Maryland, Purdue University, and the University of Colorado in Boulder.

The study, which will appear in the Royal Meteorological Society's International Journal of Climatology, found that almost any change that makes land cover less "green" contributes to warming. However, a less intuitive finding is that conversion of any land to agricultural use results in cooling, even land that was previously forested.

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[truedelphi]

1. I think about this all the time. Practically every day when I drive a country road.

Here in California, I watch as acres of trees and meadow are demolished for the sake of vineyards.

Scientitsts say that in their study of just one species, the California deer, such habitat reduction causes a 15% reduction in the numbers of deer.

No one has ever studied the effects of this on skinks, skunks, snakes, owls, hawks, and other birds, elk, hares, rabbits, raccoons, frogs, badgers, possums, et cetera.

But it can't be good.

And then there is the matter of the fact that a meadow surrounded by large oaks and manzantia really benefits the air quality and produces tons of oxygen. Whatever oxygen is produced from the vineyards is negligible due to all the pesticides those vines are encased in.

[BeFree]

2. Deforested cooling?

Makes sense.... forests hold heat. Ag land that has removal of growth would tend to cool during the winter and hold that coolth longer than a forest with mass that never leaves.