Research Spotlight: Changing atmospheric chemistry with the swing of an axe

When a tree is cut down, carbon that has been stored for tens, hundreds, or even thousands of years is released to the environment. In addition, felling that tree slightly alters the wind's path through the woods. If enough forest is cleared, significant changes can be seen in weather patterns and the global carbon cycle. However, the forest is more than a box of carbon and a wind screen. In a new study, Ganzeveld et al. used a climate model that takes into account atmospheric chemistry and gas exchanges at the Earth's surface. The researchers wanted to understand the long‐term effects of land use change, which, in addition to carbon cycle and weather pattern effects, can also affect concentrations of various reactive trace gases in the atmosphere, including greenhouse gases such as methane and ozone. Using a land cover and land use projection for the year 2050, the authors find that Earth should expect higher concentrations of ground‐level ozone and an increase in the oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere. As deforestation continues, the amount of turbulence in the lower atmosphere will decrease, reducing mixing and leading to a buildup of ground‐level ozone. ( Journal of Geophysical Research‐Atmospheres , doi:10.1029/2010JD014041, 2010)