Why Do Forests Regulate Climate?

Imagine a forest is like a giant sponge and a fan all at once. Trees breathe in a gas called carbon dioxide, which makes the Earth warm. They take this gas out of the air and lock it inside their trunks and leaves. This is called carbon sequestration.

How Trees Cool the Air

Trees also act like tiny sprinklers. They pull water from the soil through their roots and release it as vapor from their leaves. This process is called evapotranspiration. When this water vapor hits the air, it cools down, just like sweat cools your skin.

Making Clouds and Rain

The water vapor rises up into the sky. It forms clouds, which reflect sunlight back into space. This keeps the ground from getting too hot. So, forests help keep the planet at a comfortable temperature by storing heat-trapping gases and cooling the air with moisture. > Think of a forest as a natural air conditioner that runs on sunlight and water.

Take the quiz →

Examples

  1. A backyard tree releases cool mist on a hot day.
  2. A city park feels cooler than the concrete streets around it.
  3. A rainforest creates its own rain clouds over the jungle.

Ask a question

See also

Loading…

Discussion

Recent activity