Atmospheric disturbances caused by human modification of the landscape

This study documents significant atmospheric effects over the U.S. central plains caused by human modification of the landscape. Using observations an d an atmospheric model, it is shown here that diurnal, thermally induced ci rculations occur during summer over a 250 x 250 km region in Oklahoma and K ansas. Furthermore, it is shown that the driving force behind these circula tions is the landscape heterogeneity resulting from differential land use p atterns, that such atmospheric phenomena are characteristic of surfaces wit h this type of heterogeneity and not limited to infrequent days when unusua l wind or other meteorological conditions prevail, and that the net effect of these motions is significant, not only locally, but also at the regional and global scales.