Final Report: Climatic Implications of Tropical and Boreal Deforestation

This topic submitted by Melissa Hamann and Dave Smith ( hamannmm@muohio.edu ) on 5/5/04 .

Global Climate Change -Western Program-Miami University

Abstract:

Deforestation is a worldwide phenomena; the cutting down of a resource that has proven to be valuable throughout the ages. Forests not only give habitat to living creatures, but they play a vital role in the regulating abiotic conditions- such as atmospheric carbon and oxygen. The role of forests has been shown in a plethora of documented studies to both prevent and exacerbate global climate change. An example of this is the releasing of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, happens when forests are cut down because these are no longer a temporary carbon sink; the net effect of their removal from the EarthÕs surface is more than their initial release of CO2 alone. In this study, we examined the climatic implications of tropical and boreal deforestation and compared our findings to experimental data collected in OhioÕs temperate forests. We found that forests worldwide have a significant effect on abiotic conditions- decreased carbon storage, decreased moisture, and (generally) an increase in temperature due to deforestation. Thus, the protection and resource of our forests is vital to the climateÕs state of balance.

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