Illegal deforestation in the Amazon is a persistent problem in Brazil and neighboring countries. In February, for example, they were 81 km² of deforested areas in the biome – worrying number, according to data from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE).
Now, a new study published in the journal Nature reveals another impact of forest loss: In addition to aggravating droughts in naturally arid periods, trees removal can increase the volume of rainfall during the rainy season.
“Our findings highlight the complex balance between local and non -local effects in the relationship between deforestation and precipitation on different stations and scales. The study emphasizes the urgent need to combat the rapid and extensive loss of forest in the Amazon, ”the scientists explain.
What causes this climate variation?
Research indicates that deforestation can cause both severe droughts and more intense storms, depending on the time of year. The reasons for each phenomenon, however, are distinct.
In the case of droughts,Emotion of vegetation reduces evapotranspiration (ET) – Process in which trees release moisture to the atmosphere. With less humidity available, the region becomes drier. Furthermore, During drought periods, trees retain more water to survive, which aggravates moisture reduction.
“The decrease in regional precipitation can generate significant economic losses in agriculture, reducing harvest productivity by 0.5% for each percentage point of reduction in rain,” scientists point out.
In the case of rainfall, the explanation is in the atmospheric circulation. During the rainy season, the removal of the trees creates areas of low pressure in the deforested spaces. These areas end up attracting more moisture, intensifying the storms.
On this aspect, study simulated an increase of 0.96 mm per month for each percentage point of lost forest .
“If they are substantial enough to influence extreme events or increase the humidity of the basin, these increments can aggravate flooding in certain deforested regions, affecting agriculture and the local economy,” the researchers explain.
What can be done to mitigate the impacts?
For scientists, the rainfall variation in deforested areas requires specific strategies to reduce environmental impacts About biodiversity, forest management and agricultural production. According to the study, the importance of the Amazon in regulating regional and global climate requires urgent efforts to protect the remaining forest.
“Understanding the relationship between deforestation and precipitation requires dedicated forest management, which takes into account practices such as reforestation and planning agricultural expansion in areas of forest conversion. In addition, it is essential to monitor the boundaries of deforestation to avoid their uncontrolled expansion, ”experts recommend.
They point out, however, that more robust research will be needed to understand the impacts of deforestation on precipitation outside the Amazon . This new phase of study is considered challenging in their view, especially in the face of climate change projected for the future.
“It is essential to avoid simplistic predictions on the future impacts of deforestation on precipitation. Biophysical effects involve linear and nonlinear processes, and climate response may be more complex than current models indicate, ”concludes the team of researchers
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This content was originally published in deforestation in the Amazon worsens droughts and storms, a study points out on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Charles Grill is a tech-savvy writer with over 3 years of experience in the field. He writes on a variety of technology-related topics and has a strong focus on the latest advancements in the industry. He is connected with several online news websites and is currently contributing to a technology-focused platform.
