Tibetan Grasslands Reverse Global Warming In Small Area

Longer periods of growth on the Tibetan Plateau suggest improvements in that particular micro-climate. Studies show that as vegetation increases, the resulting evapotranspiration--the sum of all evaporation and plant transpiration into the atmosphere--is combating global warming.

Generally speaking, an increase of vegetation growth in areas such as the Arctic results in heat transfer from lower latitudes. This then causes an increase in melting sea ice, which leads to a faster rise in local temperatures. This is not the case in Tibet, researchers said in a release.

"The reason for this is that increased evapotranspiration from plants is cooling the air," explained Deliang Chen, Professor of Physical Meteorology at the University of Gothenburg, in her study recently published in PNAS.

"Our results suggest that actions to restore native grasslands in degraded areas, roughly one-third of the plateau, will both facilitate a sustainable ecological development in this region and bring local and global climate benefits," said Chen in the statement. 

Researchers developed climate models that simulate daytime cooling as a result of the increased vegetation, although they reflect a smaller magnitude than currently observed.

More accurate simulations of the land-surface biophysical feedbacks to the atmosphere are needed to better understand Tibet's regional climate change and larger-scale feedbacks between the Tibetan Plateau and the Asian monsoon system climates.

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