Hey guys

I'm a journo at Ninemsn and we just came out with this great story on land clearing and whether its responsible for global warming in Australia.

A professor at the University of Queensland said his research shows that clearing of native vegetation has made Australian droughts hotter and has impacted on climate change in Australia.

Here's the article

Land clearing blamed for climate change (http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=301598)

What do you guys think?

Could land clearing be one of the biggest contributors to global warming?

Hello,

I have read this article and it does help to explain one part of why the planet is warming. It's no surprise that clearing land can have this effect, that's why deserts are so hot...a lack of vegetation.

I think it was said best in this part of the article:
"It also reflects into space less short-wave solar radiation ... and this process keeps the surface temperature cooler and aids cloud formation."

It's not the only reason the globe is warming but it's one in growing list of contributors. You see, as ice melts at the caps, it exposes water. Water absorbs the energy of the sun which causes it to heat up more which melts even more ice. This process repeats it's self until the ice caps are gone.

The vegetation is much like the ice; as long as it's there, it will reflect the sun light. Get rid of the vegetation, the land starts to absorb the sun light and the place starts to heat up. It's really a game of equal and opposite reactions.

Great article which helps to explain some of the reasons why global warming is real.

Hi,

I'd like to read this article, but the link does not seem to lead to the right article anymore. Please let me know where to find the article you are talking about.

regards,

Turtuga Blanku

never mind, I think I found it here:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/NATIONAL/Land-clearing-blamed-for-climate-change/2007/10/28/1193555525054.html

Deforestation is one of the gravest challenges facing the environment to day. Nearly all studies show that if natural forests continue to be cleared at their present rate the concentration of greenhouse gasses emitted into the atmosphere will increase dramatically.

Not only that but the rainforests that are being cleared are home to some of the richest ecosystems on the planet and are facing complete annihilation.

http://www.sustainable-development.com/environment/2009/05/B145/brazils-atlantic-forest-totally-destroyed-in-40-years.html

This article I read yesterday at http://www.sustainable-development.com explains these threats, which are presently facing the Atlantic Forest. A new study shows that the forest which once covered a territory twice the size of Texas could be completely gone by 2050. That’s less than 50 years away! This, and other cases of deforestation are a tragedy both in terms of their effects on climate change, the plant and animal populations living in them, and local populations threatened by their destruction.

That is quite natural. If you clear the natural vegetation, cut down greeneries, then nature is not going to gift. Of course the level of CO2 will steadily increase.