Influence of forest cover changes on regional weather conditions: estimations using the mesoscale model COSMO

• Published in: IOP conference series. Earth and environmental science 2018-01, Vol.107 (1), p.12105
• Main Authors: Olchev, A V, Rozinkina, I A, Kuzmina, E V, Nikitin, M A, Rivin, G S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Afforestation; Air temperature; Deforestation; Precipitation; Weather
• ISSN: 1755-1307; 1755-1315
• DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/107/1/012105

This modeling study intends to estimate the possible influence of forest cover change on regional weather conditions using the non-hydrostatic model COSMO. The central part of the East European Plain was selected as the 'model region' for the study. The results of numerical experiments conducted for the warm period of 2010 for the modeling domain covering almost the whole East European Plain showed that deforestation and afforestation processes within the selected model region of the area about 105 km2 can lead to significant changes in regional weather conditions. The deforestation processes have resulted in an increase of the air temperature and a reduction in the amount of precipitation. The afforestation processes can produce the opposite effects, as manifested in decreased air temperature and increased precipitation. Whereas a change of the air temperature is observed mainly inside of the model region, the changes of the precipitation are evident within the entire East European Plain, even in regions situated far away from the external boundaries of the model region.