Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Climate System Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, PL 503, 00101 Helsinki, Finland
Juho Aalto
Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Department of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
Forests are seen as good for climate. Yet, in areas with snow, trees break up the white snow surface and absorb more sunlight than open areas. This has a warming effect, negating some of the climate benefit of trees. We studied two site pairs in Finland, both with an open peatland and a forest. We found that the later the snow melts, the more extra energy the forest absorbs as compared to the peatland. This has implications for the future, as snow cover duration is affected by global warming.
Forests are seen as good for climate. Yet, in areas with snow, trees break up the white snow...