Tree planting targets seem all the rage these days. From election manifestos to newspapers pledging to plant trees, everyone’s at it. Piers, Dom and I discuss the climate science behind such targets in the latest issue of Woodwise from The Woodland Trust. In particular, we look at how we use science to relate the international … Continue reading The science behind tree planting targets
Climate impacts of deforestation
Our recent research indicates that deforestation might be warming the climate even more than we thought. How cool are trees? We know that trees and forests affect the climate in a variety of ways. They’re constantly taking carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the air and storing it in their roots, trunks and branches as they … Continue reading Climate impacts of deforestation
Living Lab for Air Quality
The Living Lab for Air Quality is a collaboration between the Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science (ICAS), the Centre for Environmental Modelling and Computation (CEMAC), the Sustainability Service and the Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds. Poor air quality causes both respiratory and cardiovascular health problems, and has been linked with … Continue reading Living Lab for Air Quality
Earth system feedbacks?
Quantifying the relationship between natural particles in the atmosphere and climate In our recent paper we show that the cooling effect of natural atmospheric particles is greater during warmer years and could therefore potentially reduce the amount that temperatures rise as a result of climate change. Particles in the atmosphere can alter Earth’s climate by … Continue reading Earth system feedbacks?