Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 7.5 Accumulated fraction of conversion from forests to croplands between 2000 and 2100
in the study area. The black box is the boundary of the study area
et al. found that the temperate forests in European Russia underwent substantial
change during 1990-2010, with a decrease rate of 1 % in total area between 1990
and 1995 and an increase rate of 1.4 % between 2005 and 2010, which may be
caused by the logging and afforestation on abandoned croplands (Baumann et al.
2012
). Hansen et al. reported that Russia has the third largest area of gross forest
cover loss. Russia's forest loss is geographically widespread due to deforestation
in the European and far-eastern parts of the country and forest fires throughout
Siberia (Hansen et al.
2010
). Potapov et al. (
2011
) indicated that the forest cover is
central part of European Russia was between 16 and 50 % (average forest cover of
36 %). The low forest cover within these regions is a result of a long history of
conversion from forests to croplands.
Thus, the European Russia where has experienced fluctuant land cover change
and serious forest loss due to the intensive human activities is selected as a typical
area
to detect
the
impacts of
deforestation on the near-surface temperature
(Fig.
7.5
).
