Forest and non-forest demonstrate comparable biophysical temperature effects but distinct asymmetry patterns during cropland conversion

Forest and non-forest demonstrate comparable biophysical temperature effects but distinct asymmetry patterns during cropland conversion | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Forest and non-forest demonstrate comparable biophysical temperature effects but distinct asymmetry patterns during cropland conversion Zhao-Liang Li, Menglin Si, Xiangyang Liu, Yitao Li, Pei Leng, and 4 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3707942/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Cropland changes impact surface properties and influence land surface temperature (LST), yet uncertainties persist due to their fragmented pattern. This study examines the actual biophysical LST effect resulting from cropland conversions with well-studied forests and less-explored non-forests. Analyzing data from 2003 to 2019 for global croplands undergoing fractional changes (+1.3%/4y), we find that the biophysical LST effects (-0.01℃/4y in summer; +0.002℃/4y in winter) account for an average of -55.6% and +1.4%, respectively, of the satellite-observed total LST trends in summer (+0.018℃/4y) and winter (+0.138℃/4y). Cropland conversions with forest vegetation (FV) and barren land (BAR) exhibit comparable summer cooling (-0.005℃/4y and -0.004℃/4y), while those with FV and non-forest vegetation (NFV) result in winter warming (+0.002℃/4y and +0.001℃/4y). Notably, cropland conversion with BAR shows the most pronounced LST sensitivity, followed by FV, NFV and wetland (WET). The sensitivity magnitude of cropland degradation to FV surpasses that of cropland expansion, revealing reversed asymmetry patterns for conversions with NFV, BAR, and WET. The findings caution against incorporating all types of natural landcovers in cropland conversions for land-based mitigation. Earth and environmental sciences/Climate sciences/Climate change/Climate-change impacts Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental sciences/Environmental impact Cropland conversions biophysical LST effect sensitivity asymmetry attribution analysis Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-3707942","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":257955533,"identity":"66cf365e-a5e2-4fd9-8d71-3e165ba24138","order_by":0,"name":"Zhao-Liang 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This study examines the actual biophysical LST effect resulting from cropland conversions with well-studied forests and less-explored non-forests. Analyzing data from 2003 to 2019 for global croplands undergoing fractional changes (+1.3%/4y), we find that the biophysical LST effects (-0.01℃/4y in summer; +0.002℃/4y in winter) account for an average of -55.6% and +1.4%, respectively, of the satellite-observed total LST trends in summer (+0.018℃/4y) and winter (+0.138℃/4y). Cropland conversions with forest vegetation (FV) and barren land (BAR) exhibit comparable summer cooling (-0.005℃/4y and -0.004℃/4y), while those with FV and non-forest vegetation (NFV) result in winter warming (+0.002℃/4y and +0.001℃/4y). Notably, cropland conversion with BAR shows the most pronounced LST sensitivity, followed by FV, NFV and wetland (WET). The sensitivity magnitude of cropland degradation to FV surpasses that of cropland expansion, revealing reversed asymmetry patterns for conversions with NFV, BAR, and WET. 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