Variability of local temperature in conifer forests as a consequence of deforestation

Abstract

Given that assessing the impact of deforestation on local climate changes in the Mexican forests is a priority, the study here described was carried out in order to determine the variability of temperature (maximum, minimum and average) in some conifer woods and neighboring deforested areas, as well as their daily and night differences. Six sites were located in Pinus and Abies forests and in nearby treeless areas in the states of Tlaxcala, Coahuila, Michoacán, Jalisco and Durango, where Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) were placed. The results revealed that the deforested areas are warmer than those with trees (by 0.43 °C to 0.69 °C). The Pinus michoacana forest showed the highest temperature values, while the lowest occurred at the Abies vejarii community. Between day and night temperatures, the average difference was 3 °C, and a higher temperature by 1.4 % prevailed in deforested areas compared to those covered by trees. Finally, by forest type, the areas with Pinus durangensis had the highest variation in temperature between day and night (by more than 4 °C) and those with Abies religiosa the lowest, with values below 1.5 °C.