Sack Lunch Seminar (SLS) Series: Dan Li (Boston University)

Biophysical impacts of land-use/land-cover change: a simple surface energy balance model, boundary-layer feedbacks, and the convective heat transfer efficiency

Land-use and land-cover change (LULCC) has a direct impact on surface temperature through altering surface biophysical properties. Given the highly regionalized nature of LULCC, the effect of LULCC on surface temperature in certain areas can be stronger than the global impact of increasing greenhouse gases. What are the sensitivities of surface temperature to changes in surface biophysical properties? How do these sensitivities depend on the spatial scale characterizing the changes of surface biophysical properties? These questions frame the scope of this talk. Frist, a minimalistic model based on the surface energy balance equation will be presented for understanding the sensitivities of surface temperature to changes in surface biophysical properties. Then, whether boundary-layer feedbacks enhance or reduce these sensitivities will be examined. Lastly, the long-term challenge of parameterizing the convective heat transfer efficiency, which is a key factor controlling the sensitivities of surface temperature to changes in surface biophysical properties in the minimalistic model, will be discussed.

About this Series

The Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate Sack Lunch Seminar Series is an informal seminar series within PAOC that focuses on more specialized topics than the PAOC Colloquium. Seminar topics include all research concerning the science of atmosphere, ocean and climate. The seminars usually take place on Wednesdays from 12-1pm in 54-915. The presentations are either given by an invited speaker or by a member of PAOC and can focus on new research or discussion of a paper of particular interest.

Contact: sacklunch-committee@mit.edu for Zoom information