• Tropical forests produce 2.4 million liters of rainfall per hectare annually. • Study quantifies rainfall generation, equating to Olympic-sized pool per hectare. • Findings highlight forests’ role in regional water supply amid climate pressures. • Protecting forests safeguards vital rainfall, supporting agriculture and ecosystems. • Monetary value underscores economic importance of forest-generated precipitation. • Study from University of Leeds adds evidence to climate resilience arguments.
Article Summaries:
- Tropical forests help to generate vast amounts of rainfall each year, adding weight to arguments for protecting them as water and climate pressures increase, say researchers. A new study led by the University of Leeds has put a monetary value on one of forests’ least recognized services as a source of rainfall to surrounding regions, finding that each hectare generates 2.4 million liters of rain each year-enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
Sources: