Yu et al. (2026) Asymmetry of Land Surface Temperature Response to Forest Gain and Loss: The Role of Land Cover Conversions

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Geophysical Research Letters
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-07-23
• Authors: Yuehan Yu, Yan Li, Yiqing Liu, Duqi Liu, Hongwen Chen, zijun Zhao
• DOI: 10.1029/2026gl123073

Research Groups

• Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles
• NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Short Summary

This study investigates the role of land cover conversions in asymmetric land surface temperature (LST) responses to forest gain and loss, revealing a consistent asymmetry globally.

Objective

• Investigate the relationship between land cover conversions and LST sensitivity to forest gain and loss.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Global scale using three global land cover data sets.
• Temporal Scale: 2001–2020 period of analysis.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not specified, but likely used satellite or observation-based datasets for LST analysis.
• Data sources: Three global land cover data sets (not specified which ones) from 2001 to 2020.

Main Results

• The magnitude of LST sensitivity to forest loss is nearly double that to forest gain globally.
• A consistent asymmetry emerges in the tropics, temperate, and boreal regions after separating forest-induced warming and cooling regions.
• Divergent land cover conversion pathways between forest gain and loss contribute to this asymmetry.

Contributions

• This study demonstrates the importance of land cover conversions as a driver of asymmetric LST responses, with key implications for forest-based climate mitigation.

Funding

• NASA's Terrestrial Hydrology Program (NNH13ZDA001N)
• National Science Foundation's Division of Earth Sciences (EAR-1331162)

Citation

@article{Yu2026Asymmetry,
  author = {Yu, Yuehan and Li, Yan and Liu, Yiqing and Liu, Duqi and Chen, Hongwen and Zhao, zijun},
  title = {Asymmetry of Land Surface Temperature Response to Forest Gain and Loss: The Role of Land Cover Conversions},
  journal = {Geophysical Research Letters},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1029/2026gl123073},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1029/2026gl123073}
}