Speaker
Description
Cloud, vegetation, and climate are tightly coupled. On the one hand, clouds regulate surface radiation and water availability, thereby influencing photosynthesis; on the other hand, vegetation modifies land-atmosphere fluxes and feeds back on cloud formation and radiative forcing. Here, we synthesize recent advances from these two complementary perspectives.
The first part examines the impacts of clouds on vegetation photosynthesis. Using observational- and model-based datasets spanning recent decades, we show that the sensitivity of photosynthesis to cloud cover is spatially modulated by hydroclimatic conditions. In water-limited regions, clouds enhance photosynthesis by increasing precipitation. Conversely, in energy-limited regions, clouds reduce photosynthesis by diminishing incoming solar radiation. Under global warming, projected changes in cloud cover are expected to reduce photosynthesis in arid regions while enhancing it in humid regions, thereby amplifying regional disparities in ecosystem functioning.
The second part focuses on the impacts of deforestation on clouds and climate. By combining climate model simulations with data-driven approaches, we find that deforestation locally reduces low-level clouds. These cloud reductions primarily result from weakened surface turbulent heat fluxes, which constrain atmospheric uplift and moisture supply. The resulting radiative warming from reduced cloud albedo partially offsets the cooling effect associated with increased surface albedo following deforestation.
| Status Group | Postdoctoral Researcher |
|---|---|
| FOR TALKS: Poster Presentation Option | Yes, I’m willing to present as a poster. |