The impact of African and Amazonian deforestation on tropical climate

This paper presents results of a deforestation experiment carried out with the general circulation model of the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique coupled to the Schématisation des Echanges Hydriques à l'Interface entre le Biosphère et l'Atmosphère (SECHIBA) vegetation model. An integration of 1 year was carried out in which the tropical forests of Amazonia, Africa and Indonesia were replaced by grassland. It was found that the model produces a reduction in evaporation and an increase in soil temperature. In contrast to similar experiments, a significant increase in moisture convergence was obtained; this increase is attributed to an enhancement of the convective activity of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).