Summary
The replacement of native vegetation for agriculture leads to significant changes in land surface characteristics, such as albedo, surface roughness and canopy resistance. These land surface changes induce changes in the atmospheric boundary layer. From an analysis of case studies and climatological records, it is shown that in Western Australia this change in surface characteristics and in particular, the albedo, has reduced the occurrence of convective cloud formation through limiting the vertical development of the boundary layer.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received November 14, 2001 Revised December 28, 2001
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lyons, T. Clouds prefer native vegetation. Meteorol Atmos Phys 80, 131–140 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s007030200020
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s007030200020