Observational evidence for cloud cover enhancement over western European forests

Teuling, Adriaan J.; Taylor, Christopher M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0120-3198; Meirink, Jan Fokke; Melsen, Lieke A.; Miralles, Diego G.; van Heerwaarden, Chiel C.; Vautard, Robert; Stegehuis, Annemiek I.; Nabuurs, Gert-Jan; de Arellano, Jordi Vilà-Guerau. 2017 Observational evidence for cloud cover enhancement over western European forests. Nature Communications, 8, 14065. 7, pp. 10.1038/ncomms14065

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms14065

Abstract/Summary

Forests impact regional hydrology and climate directly by regulating water and heat fluxes. Indirect effects through cloud formation and precipitation can be important in facilitating continental-scale moisture recycling but are poorly understood at regional scales. In particular, the impact of temperate forest on clouds is largely unknown. Here we provide observational evidence for a strong increase in cloud cover over large forest regions in western Europe based on analysis of 10 years of 15 min resolution data from geostationary satellites. In addition, we show that widespread windthrow by cyclone Klaus in the Landes forest led to a significant decrease in local cloud cover in subsequent years. Strong cloud development along the downwind edges of larger forest areas are consistent with a forest-breeze mesoscale circulation. Our results highlight the need to include impacts on cloud formation when evaluating the water and climate services of temperate forests, in particular around densely populated areas.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1038/ncomms14065
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Reynard
ISSN:	2041-1723
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	atmospheric dynamics, environmental impact, hydrology
NORA Subject Terms:	Hydrology Meteorology and Climatology
Date made live:	16 Jan 2017 11:57 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/515836

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1038/ncomms14065

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Reynard

ISSN:

2041-1723

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

atmospheric dynamics, environmental impact, hydrology