Ukaonu et al. (2026) Contrasting seasonal rainfall responses to deforestation in the Southwestern Amazon Basin

Identification

• Journal: Scientific Reports
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-09-18
• Authors: Caleb Ukaonu, Jung-Eun Lee, Samantha Valentine
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-71826-2

Research Groups

• University of [Unknown]
• Laboratory/Department of [Unknown]

Short Summary

This study examines the impact of deforestation on precipitation patterns in the Southwestern Amazon Basin using satellite observations and reanalysis data. The results show that wet season precipitation is enhanced over forested areas, while dry season precipitation is preferred over deforested areas.

Objective

• Investigate how changes in evapotranspiration and surface heating affect convection and rainfall distribution in the Amazon Basin

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Regional (Southwestern Amazon Basin)
• Temporal Scale: 20 years (1998-2018)

Methodology and Data

• Models used: ERA5 reanalysis data, CMORPH satellite precipitation dataset, IMERG satellite precipitation dataset
• Data sources: Satellite observations of precipitation and skin temperature from MODIS

Main Results

• Wet season precipitation is enhanced over forested areas due to increased moisture convergence and uplift.
• Dry season precipitation is preferred over deforested areas due to the presence of a mesoscale circulation caused by an evaporation gradient.
• The study period shows a decline in total moisture, with average wet and dry season precipitation decreasing by 10–15%.

Contributions

• This study provides new insights into the impact of deforestation on precipitation patterns in the Amazon Basin, highlighting the importance of considering both seasonal and spatial variations.

Funding

• NSF Climate & Large-Scale Dynamics (NSF AGS, 1944545)

Citation

@article{Ukaonu2026Contrasting,
  author = {Ukaonu, Caleb and Lee, Jung-Eun and Valentine, Samantha},
  title = {Contrasting seasonal rainfall responses to deforestation in the Southwestern Amazon Basin},
  journal = {Scientific Reports},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-71826-2},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-71826-2}
}