Agriculture-driven Land Use Land Cover Change and Climate

Abstract:

Land use land cover change (LULCC) plays an important role in the climate system. Impacts of LULCC can be observed at all spatio-temporal scales. LULCC results in the modification of both biogeophysical and biogeochemical properties of the land and atmosphere which eventually impacts weather and climate. Here we will focus on agriculture-driven LULCC and its biogeophysical impacts. It is found that agriculture-driven LULCC can both increase and lower the long-term maximum temperature over a region by changing energy partitioning (latent vs. sensible energy flux). LULCC also changes timing and location of convection and amount of precipitation. These impacts can be observed at the meso-, regional-/sub-continental scale. In addition, LULCC may also remotely impacts sub-continental scale climate. However, further investigation is needed to understand remote impacts of LULCC. We call for additional in-situ and remote observation platforms to monitor and understand impacts of agriculture-driven LULCC on climate.