When we change the vegetation across a landscape, we create a cascade of effects with both short term and long terms implications that extend from the very local to the global scale.
we are currently experiencing fires in Victoria and I did a quick calculation in relation to the amount of water lost downslope when a road intersects and diverts runoff to quick drainage. Over an average hydrological year over a quarter of annual precipitation is diverted from slow infiltration in the lower slopes, this has the ability to downgrade the whole ecological zone into a drier system. Death by a thousand cuts, This part of Australia is very hilly hence the greater effect but I would expect the same to be said in many parts of the world. We used to do the opposite and we still could with a bit of intelligent design but in some areas roads intersect on many levels down slope so this just increases the effect. And we wonder why we flood and burn?
One thing we forgot
we are currently experiencing fires in Victoria and I did a quick calculation in relation to the amount of water lost downslope when a road intersects and diverts runoff to quick drainage. Over an average hydrological year over a quarter of annual precipitation is diverted from slow infiltration in the lower slopes, this has the ability to downgrade the whole ecological zone into a drier system. Death by a thousand cuts, This part of Australia is very hilly hence the greater effect but I would expect the same to be said in many parts of the world. We used to do the opposite and we still could with a bit of intelligent design but in some areas roads intersect on many levels down slope so this just increases the effect. And we wonder why we flood and burn?
Am glad you mentioned biogenic aerosols. A cooling mechanism lost as the trees get razed.
Tom have a look at https://substack.com/home/post/p-183916676, I will read the background paper this weekend, Looks promising
Thanks, that does look interesting.