Forest Influences on Climate and Water Resources at the Landscape to Regional Scale - Landscape Ecology for Sustainable Environment and Culture - page 303

Fig. 15.1 A conceptual model describing the interactions of forests, climate, and streamflow at
multiple scales (modified from Liu et al. 2008 , 2010 )
15.2.1 Unique Physical Characteristics
Forests are distinctly different from other land surfaces in physical properties both
above ground and below ground in terms of the ability of light absorption and
reflectance (Albedo), leaf and root biomass, surface roughness, and soil charac-
teristics. These properties have profound influences on the energy and water
balances from the ecosystem to global scale.
15.2.2 Albedo
Surface Albedo or light reflectance, is an important parameter that affects energy
balance of ecosystems, and can be as important as greenhouse gases in affecting
climate change (Betts 2000 ). Because forests have higher leaf area and biomass
than grass or other short crops, forests generally have lower surface albedo.
A lower albedo value means more solar energy available (higher net radiation) for
sensible heat and latent heat, i.e., evapotranspiration. A comparison of albedo and
net radiation measured for a mid-rotation (15-year-old) and young loblolly pine