INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE ATMOSPHERE AND TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS - INFLUENCE ON WEATHER AND CLIMATE

This paper overviews the short-term (biophysical) and long-term tout t o around 100 year timescales; biogeochemical and biogeographical) infl uences of the land surface on weather and climate. From our review of the literature, the evidence is convincing that terrestrial ecosystem dynamics on these timescales significantly influence atmospheric proce sses. In studies of past and possible future climate change, terrestri al ecosystem dynamics are as important as changes in atmospheric dynam ics and composition, ocean circulation, ice sheet extent, and orbit pe rturbations.