Many scientists believe that deforestation contributes greatly to global warming. But new research from Yale University shows that in fact in some northern latitudes contributes to a climate cooling locally.

If trees are cut down a lot in the boreal region, above 45 degrees north latitude, yields a net cooling effect. By cutting down the trees, just releasing carbon into the atmosphere, which contributes to the greenhouse effect, but then increases the albedo of the ground if it is light in color (or is covered with snow), and therefore more sunlight reflected into space, light can no longer heat the surface.

Xuhui Lee, principal investigator of the study and professor of meteorology at Yale University, United States, and experts from 20 other institutions have found that the level of surface temperatures in the deforested areas analyzed are cooler than before deforestation due to snow cover, well lodged in the ground, reflecting sunlight and the place is not so hot, unlike what happens in nearby wooded areas, whose coverage of tree canopy absorbs more solar heat. At night, in the absence of the effect of reflection, deforested areas cool faster than the forests, which causes the warm air down in a turbulent from higher levels to the ground surface.

If we plant trees, atmospheric carbon sequestration, which is beneficial for the climate system. But at the same time, the place gets warmer, because the trees are darker than other types of vegetation or the white ground, and thus absorb more solar radiation.

The researchers calculated that, at least in North America, over 45 degrees north latitude, temperature decreases by an average of 0.8 degrees Celsius by the described effect of deforestation. However, deforestation below 35 degrees latitude seems to cause warming. Between these latitudes, there is a possible cooling effect, but not statistically significant.