

HOME	RESEARCH	ABOUT	CV	CONTACT

Quantifying Observed Vegetation Feedbacks

Collaborators: Zhengyu Liu, Jack Williams, John Kutzbach, Jingyong Zhang

Funding: DOE

Publications:
Notaro, M., Z. Liu, and J. W. Williams, 2006: Observed vegetation-climate feedbacks in the United States. J.
Climate, 19 (5), 763-786.
Liu, Z., M. Notaro, J. Kutzbach, and N. Liu, 2006: An observational assessment of global vegetation-climate
feedbacks. J. Climate, 19 (5), 787-814.

Zhang, J., L. Wu, G. Huang, and M. Notaro, 2011: Relationships between large-scale circulation patterns and carbon dioxide exchange by a deciduous forest. Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmosphere, 116, D04102, doi:

10.1029/2010JD014738.

Methods: Following the statistical approach used by Claude Frankignoul for ocean-atmosphere feedbacks, we quantify observed vegetation feedbacks on surface air temperature and precipitation using lagged covariances on remote-sensing FPAR (vegetation greenness) and gridded climate data.

Key finding: The boreal forests produce a positive feedback on temperature. Vegetation feedbacks on precipitation are either subtle or mostly non-local.

Estimated observed vegetation feedbacks on monthly surface air temperature (top) and precipitation (bottom), based on remote-sensing FPAR (vegetation greenness) and gridded climate data. The most significant results are a positive forcing of vegetation on temperature over the boreal forests, particularly in springtime.