Forests contribute to reducing air pollution and reducing air temperature (Shutterstock)
An international team of researchers led by Stockholm University has provided new insights into the complex role that forests play in the climate system and the water cycle, using climate computer simulation models, which are computer programs that use mathematical equations to predict the impact of climate change, and determine how the atmosphere, water, land and organisms each affect climate change. Live and solar energy on each other and on the climate.
The research - which involved scientists from 11 institutions from five countries including Sweden, the United Kingdom, Finland, Germany and Brazil - highlights the complex relationship between forests, the emission of organic gases from them, and the formation of reflective clouds that can affect global temperatures.
On the other hand, the Life Technology website described the study published by the journal Nature Communications as confirming the crucial role that forests play in maintaining a stable climate and securing and stabilizing the water cycle, especially since the international community is striving to address the challenges of climate change and water scarcity, and therefore it is necessary to harness The power of nature to combat climate change and ensure a sustainable future for future generations.
The study emphasizes the crucial role that forests play in maintaining a stable climate, as well as securing and stabilizing the water cycle (Shutterstock)
The role of forests in reducing carbon
According to the United Nations website, forests are a group of trees that cover more than 30% of the world’s land, and are home to about 80% of the biological diversity on Earth. They also include more than 60,000 species of trees, in addition to a variety of plants such as herbs. And shrubs, depending on the climate of the region. Forests also include other components such as lakes, ponds, soil, rocks, etc.
It is known that plant growth occurs through the process of photosynthesis, which is considered the primary source of food for all living organisms, including humans and almost all animals on Earth. Based on this process, forests contribute to reducing air pollution and reducing air temperature, as they absorb carbon dioxide and store it in their wood in a process called “carbon sequestration,” and thus contribute to reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and this is also confirmed by The study, conducted by international researchers led by Stockholm University, said forests play a pivotal role in carbon storage and the water cycle, although the full extent of their impact remains to be fully understood.
On the other hand, the United Nations website says that forest trees help lower the air temperature because they block some of the sun's rays, which increases the feeling of coolness and refreshment, especially when water evaporates from the surface of the tree leaves.
Trees absorb carbon dioxide and store it in their wood in a process called “carbon sequestration” (Shutterstock)
The most prominent results of the study
According to the statement issued by Stockholm University published on the Physorg website, the unique aspect of this study is its focus on boreal and tropical forests, which constitute 27% and 45% of the forest area on Earth, respectively, and differ in their emissions and cloud formation processes, leading to varying impacts on Feedback loop of forests, clouds and climate.
“This study uses long-term data from diverse forest environments in Finland and Brazil, and this is the first time observational evidence of these interactions has been provided in tropical rainforests,” says lead author Sarah Bleschner, a postdoctoral scientist in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Stockholm University.
The statement issued by Stockholm University says that the study confirmed in its results that forests act as a natural climate regulator by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis, which helps mitigate the effects of greenhouse gas emissions and reduces the overall concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. atmosphere, and thus works to combat climate change.
Forests play a vital role in the water cycle, as trees act as natural pumps, pulling water from the ground and releasing it into the atmosphere (Shutterstock)
On the other hand, the results of the study also showed that forests play a vital role in the water cycle, as trees act as natural pumps, as they draw water from the ground and release it into the atmosphere through a process called transpiration, and this moisture during clouds contributes to rainfall, ensuring a supply of Sustainably sourced from fresh water.
However, despite the results of the study in showing the role that forests play in mitigating the effects of climate change and in helping to pump water to the ground, it confirmed at the same time that it needed improved climate models to accurately represent these complex interactions.
In this regard, Sarah Plechner says: “Our findings suggest that current models may underestimate the influence of forests on cloud formation and climate, especially in the tropics, which is crucial because of the large amount of solar radiation that these regions receive at these latitudes.” ".
The study also emphasized in its recommendations the importance of sustainable forest management practices, and by implementing responsible logging techniques and enhancing reforestation efforts, we can enhance the resilience of forests and maximize their positive impact on climate and water cycles.
Source: Al Jazeera + websites