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Land-Surface Characteristics and Climate in West Africa: Models’ Biases and Impacts of Historical Anthropogenically-Induced Deforestation

Author

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  • Souleymane Sy

    (Laboratoire de Physique de l’Atmosphère et de l’Océan Siméon-Fongang (LPAO-SF), Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique, Cheikh Anta Diop University, B.P. 5005 Dakar-Fann, Sénégal
    Centre de Suivi Ecologique, Fann-Résidence, B.P. 15532 Dakar-Fann, Sénégal
    Laboratoire d’Océanographie et du Climat: Expérimentations et Approches Numériques (LOCEAN), Sorbonne Universités (UPMC, Univ Paris 06)-CNRS-IRD-MNHN, 75005 Paris, France)

  • Nathalie De Noblet-Ducoudré

    (Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (LSCE), Unité Mixte CEA-CNRS-UVSQ Bât. 712, Point Courrier 132, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette CEDEX, France)

  • Benjamin Quesada

    (Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research–Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (IMK-IFU, KIT), 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany)

  • Ibrahima Sy

    (Centre de Suivi Ecologique, Fann-Résidence, B.P. 15532 Dakar-Fann, Sénégal)

  • Amadou Moctar Dieye

    (Centre de Suivi Ecologique, Fann-Résidence, B.P. 15532 Dakar-Fann, Sénégal)

  • Amadou Thierno Gaye

    (Laboratoire de Physique de l’Atmosphère et de l’Océan Siméon-Fongang (LPAO-SF), Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique, Cheikh Anta Diop University, B.P. 5005 Dakar-Fann, Sénégal)

  • Benjamin Sultan

    (Laboratoire d’Océanographie et du Climat: Expérimentations et Approches Numériques (LOCEAN), Sorbonne Universités (UPMC, Univ Paris 06)-CNRS-IRD-MNHN, 75005 Paris, France)

Abstract

Land Use Land-Cover Change (LULCC), such as deforestation, affects the climate system and land-atmosphere interactions. Using simulations carried out within the LUCID (Land Use and Climate, IDentification of robust Impacts) project framework, we first quantify the role of historical land-cover change induced by human activities on surface climate in West Africa. Focusing on two contrasted African regions, we find that climate responses of land-use changes are small but they are still statistically significant. In Western Sahel, a statistically significant near-surface atmospheric cooling and a decrease in water recycling are simulated in summer in response to LULCC. Over the Guinean zone, models simulate a significant decrease in precipitation and water recycling in autumn in response to LULCC. This signal is comparable in magnitude with the effect induced by the increase in greenhouse gases. Simulated climate changes due to historical LULCC could however be underestimated because: (i) the prescribed LULCC can be underestimated in those regions; (ii) the climate models underestimate the coupling strength between West African surface climate and leaf area index (LAI) and (iii) the lack of interactive LAI in some models. Finally, our study reveals indirect atmospheric processes triggered by LULCC. Over the Western Sahel, models reveal that a significant decrease in solar reflection tend to cool down the surface and thus counteract the atmospheric feedback. Conversely, over the Guinea zone, models reveal that the indirect atmospheric processes and turbulent heat fluxes dominate the climatic responses over the direct effects of LULCC.

Suggested Citation

  • Souleymane Sy & Nathalie De Noblet-Ducoudré & Benjamin Quesada & Ibrahima Sy & Amadou Moctar Dieye & Amadou Thierno Gaye & Benjamin Sultan, 2017. "Land-Surface Characteristics and Climate in West Africa: Models’ Biases and Impacts of Historical Anthropogenically-Induced Deforestation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-24, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:10:p:1917-:d:116064
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Deborah Lawrence & Karen Vandecar, 2015. "Effects of tropical deforestation on climate and agriculture," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 27-36, January.
    2. D. V. Spracklen & S. R. Arnold & C. M. Taylor, 2012. "Observations of increased tropical rainfall preceded by air passage over forests," Nature, Nature, vol. 489(7415), pages 282-285, September.
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    2. Philip J. Havik & Filipa Monteiro & Silvia Catarino & A. Manuel Correia & Luís Catarino & Maria Manuel Romeiras, 2018. "Agro-Economic Transitions in Guinea-Bissau (West Africa): Historical Trends and Current Insights," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-19, September.

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