Forests are “essentially air-conditioning systems” thanks to biophysical processes like evapotranspiration and canopy roughness.
tropics
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Extreme Lithium Isotope Fractionations During Intense Weathering
Extreme lithium fractionation is observed when primary minerals in andesite are transformed to secondary clay minerals and then to oxides with intensive chemical weathering in a tropical climate.
Posted inEditors' Vox
Understanding Abrupt Climate Change in the Late Quaternary
During the late Quaternary period, a series of abrupt climate changes in the tropics and sub-tropics driven by changes in ocean circulation were both dramatic and disruptive.
Posted inNews
Tropical Climate Change Is a Puzzle—Could Aerosols Be a Piece?
The eastern tropical Pacific Ocean hasn’t warmed as much as climate change models projected. A new study shows that aerosols in the atmosphere could be responsible.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Raising Central American Orography Improves Climate Simulation
Elevation of Central American orography significantly reduces the pervasive tropical rainfall bias by blocking the easterlies and consequently warming the northeastern tropical Pacific.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Convective Transport Explains “Missing” Ice near the Tropical Tropopause
Spaceborne lidar shows that more ice than expected is leaving the tropical tropopause layer in the atmosphere.
Posted inEditors' Vox
Tropical Carbon and Water Observed from Above
Satellite observations show how tropical forest carbon fluxes respond to changes in water from climate variability.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
SE Asia Peatlands Subsidence Tied to Drainage Density
Human-made channelization significantly accelerates peat decomposition and drives ground-surface deformation in tropical wetlands.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Water Stress Controls the Capacity of the Terrestrial Carbon Sink
Despite increased photosynthetic activity at northern latitudes in recent decades, plant productivity in tropical zones suffers because of water limitations.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
How Tropical Cyclones Increase in Intensity Overnight
The diurnal variations of tropical cyclone intensification and decay are analyzed using satellite data for deep convective clouds.