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How can the removal of vegetation make local climate conditions drier?
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desertification
Young trees planted to hinder sandstorms and reverse desertification in the Xihu preservation area of the Gobi Desert, near Dunhuang, China.
The removal of vegetation contributes to drier local climate conditions primarily through two mechanisms: the reduction of recycled rainfall and the alteration of surface reflectivity, known as albedo.12
- Loss of Recycled Rainfall: Plants play a critical role in the hydrologic cycle by releasing water vapor into the atmosphere through transpiration. This moisture eventually returns to the surface as precipitation. In many regions, a significant portion of rainfall originates from this transpired water; without it, rainfall in continental interiors is greatly reduced.1
- Increased Albedo: Vegetation typically has a lower albedo than bare soil, meaning it absorbs more solar energy. When vegetation is removed, the surface albedo increases, reflecting more solar energy away from the surface. This change reduces the energy available for heating the atmosphere and has been linked to significant declines in rainfall and thunderstorm activity.2
These processes are central to desertification, where the loss of plant cover creates a feedback loop that diminishes biological productivity and further reduces local moisture availability.23