Open AccessImpacts of land use and land cover changes on the climate over Northeast Brazil
Author(s) -
Cunha Ana Paula M. A.,
Alvalá Regina C. S.,
Kubota Paulo Y.,
Vieira Rita M. S. P.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
atmospheric science letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 45
ISSN - 1530-261X
DOI - 10.1002/asl2.543
Subject(s) - environmental science , land cover , biosphere model , climatology , biosphere , climate change , land use , vegetation (pathology) , climate model , atmospheric sciences , geology , ecology , medicine , oceanography , pathology , biology
Two numerical experiments using the Atmospheric Global Circulation Model by the Center for Weather Prediction and Climate Studies and Integrated Biosphere Simulator were performed to investigate the impacts of land use and land cover changes on the climate in the semiarid area of Northeast Brazil due to replacing natural vegetation with pasture and degraded areas. Such a disturbance led to a decrease in the mean rainfall during the dry season at the study area. A meridional dipole pattern with a near surface temperature increase (reduction) in the northern (southern) areas of the semiarid region was found. The results also highlight that land use/cover change led to changes in the surface energy components and carbon balance.