(Article of periodic en Anglais - 1996)

Document title

Tropical deforestation and climate change

Authors(s) and Affiliation(s)

O'BRIEN K.L.⁽¹⁾ ;
⁽¹⁾Dept. of Geography, Penn State University, University Park, ETATS-UNIS

Abstract

This article reviews the physical links between tropical rain forests and the atmosphere, and considers the results of studies which address the climatic impacts of deforestation. There is a growing consensus that deforestation leads to warmer, drier climates. This consensus is based on experimental studies at the microscale and modelling studies at the local and regional scale. Very few comprehensive empirical studies have been conducted at the local to regional scale. Consequently, there is considerable uncertainty associated with the local and regional impacts of deforestation on the climate