How do forests make rainfall more likely?
Quick Answer
Forests help create rain by releasing water vapour through transpiration and by adding tiny particles that help form clouds. In large forest regions, this can increase local humidity and sometimes trigger rainfall.
The Full Story
Trees release water vapour from their leaves through transpiration, which adds moisture to the air above a forest. Forest canopies also cool the surface and help create conditions that encourage cloud formation. In addition, airborne particles from plants and soil can act as cloud condensation nuclei, giving water vapour surfaces to condense on. This is one reason large forests such as the Amazon play an important role in regional weather patterns. Scientists study this feedback because changes in forest cover can alter rainfall far beyond the forest itself.
Key Facts
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"Can a forest actually make it rain?"