Atmospheric water recycling an essential feature of critical natural asset stewardship
Abstract Non-technical summary In this paper, we explore how critically important ecosystems on the land provide evaporation to the atmosphere, which will later fall as precipitation elsewhere. Using a model-based analysis that tracks water flowing through the atmosphere, we find that more than two-...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Global Sustainability |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059479823000248/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797348585059123200 |
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| author | Patrick W. Keys Pamela M. Collins Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer Lan Wang-Erlandsson |
| author_facet | Patrick W. Keys Pamela M. Collins Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer Lan Wang-Erlandsson |
| author_sort | Patrick W. Keys |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract
Non-technical summary
In this paper, we explore how critically important ecosystems on the land provide evaporation to the atmosphere, which will later fall as precipitation elsewhere. Using a model-based analysis that tracks water flowing through the atmosphere, we find that more than two-thirds of the precipitation over critically important ecosystem areas is supplied by evaporation from other land. Likewise, more than 40% of the evaporation from critically important ecosystems falls as precipitation on other land. We conclude our work by discussing the policy implications for how these critically important ecosystems connect spatially distant wild and working lands via the atmospheric water cycle.
Technical summary
Global ecosystems are interconnected via atmospheric water vapor flows. Land use change can modify evaporation from land, altering atmospheric moisture recycling and potentially leading to significant changes in downwind precipitation and associated ecological impacts. We combine insights on global ecosystem-regulated moisture recycling with an analysis of critical natural assets (CNA, the 30% of global land providing most of nature's contributions to people) to reveal the sources and sinks of atmospheric water cycle regulation. We find that 65% of the precipitation over CNA is supplied by evaporation from other land areas. Likewise, CNA regions supply critical moisture as precipitation to terrestrial natural ecosystems and production systems worldwide, with 44% of CNA evaporation falling on terrestrial surfaces. Specifically, the Congo River basin emerges as a hotspot of overlap between local atmospheric water cycle maintenance and concentration of nature's contributions to people. Our results suggest global priority areas for conservation efforts beyond and in support of CNA, emphasizing the importance of sparsely populated managed forests and rangelands, along with wild forests, for fostering moisture recycling to and within CNA. This work also underlines the manifold benefits associated with achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #15, to sustainably manage terrestrial life and conserve biodiversity.
Social media summary
Critically important ecosystems are essential for connecting distant landscapes via the atmospheric water cycle.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:07:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-da1080af85ce430e8f8a0a10c4d7de5d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2059-4798 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:07:11Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj.art-da1080af85ce430e8f8a0a10c4d7de5d2024-01-23T06:44:07ZengCambridge University PressGlobal Sustainability2059-47982024-01-01710.1017/sus.2023.24Atmospheric water recycling an essential feature of critical natural asset stewardshipPatrick W. Keys0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7250-1563Pamela M. Collins1Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer2Lan Wang-Erlandsson3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7739-5069Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USANASA Headquarters, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, D.C., USAGlobal Science, WWF, San Francisco, CA, USAStockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam, GermanyAbstract Non-technical summary In this paper, we explore how critically important ecosystems on the land provide evaporation to the atmosphere, which will later fall as precipitation elsewhere. Using a model-based analysis that tracks water flowing through the atmosphere, we find that more than two-thirds of the precipitation over critically important ecosystem areas is supplied by evaporation from other land. Likewise, more than 40% of the evaporation from critically important ecosystems falls as precipitation on other land. We conclude our work by discussing the policy implications for how these critically important ecosystems connect spatially distant wild and working lands via the atmospheric water cycle. Technical summary Global ecosystems are interconnected via atmospheric water vapor flows. Land use change can modify evaporation from land, altering atmospheric moisture recycling and potentially leading to significant changes in downwind precipitation and associated ecological impacts. We combine insights on global ecosystem-regulated moisture recycling with an analysis of critical natural assets (CNA, the 30% of global land providing most of nature's contributions to people) to reveal the sources and sinks of atmospheric water cycle regulation. We find that 65% of the precipitation over CNA is supplied by evaporation from other land areas. Likewise, CNA regions supply critical moisture as precipitation to terrestrial natural ecosystems and production systems worldwide, with 44% of CNA evaporation falling on terrestrial surfaces. Specifically, the Congo River basin emerges as a hotspot of overlap between local atmospheric water cycle maintenance and concentration of nature's contributions to people. Our results suggest global priority areas for conservation efforts beyond and in support of CNA, emphasizing the importance of sparsely populated managed forests and rangelands, along with wild forests, for fostering moisture recycling to and within CNA. This work also underlines the manifold benefits associated with achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #15, to sustainably manage terrestrial life and conserve biodiversity. Social media summary Critically important ecosystems are essential for connecting distant landscapes via the atmospheric water cycle. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059479823000248/type/journal_articleEarth systems (land; water; and atmospheric)ecology and biodiversityecosystem servicesland usenatural resources (biological and non-biological) |
| spellingShingle | Patrick W. Keys Pamela M. Collins Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer Lan Wang-Erlandsson Atmospheric water recycling an essential feature of critical natural asset stewardship Global Sustainability Earth systems (land; water; and atmospheric) ecology and biodiversity ecosystem services land use natural resources (biological and non-biological) |
| title | Atmospheric water recycling an essential feature of critical natural asset stewardship |
| title_full | Atmospheric water recycling an essential feature of critical natural asset stewardship |
| title_fullStr | Atmospheric water recycling an essential feature of critical natural asset stewardship |
| title_full_unstemmed | Atmospheric water recycling an essential feature of critical natural asset stewardship |
| title_short | Atmospheric water recycling an essential feature of critical natural asset stewardship |
| title_sort | atmospheric water recycling an essential feature of critical natural asset stewardship |
| topic | Earth systems (land; water; and atmospheric) ecology and biodiversity ecosystem services land use natural resources (biological and non-biological) |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059479823000248/type/journal_article |
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