Impact of land use on Costa Rican regional climate

In the Costa Rican lowlands, the satellite observations show significant differences in cloud formation and development over forested regions compared to deforested regions. This difference in cloudiness appears to be a signal of land use change influencing the regional climate. Model simulations suggest deforestation results in increased cloud base over deforested areas. The effect of increasing SST on cloud base height is erratic and at times results in decreased cloud base. Simulations suggest the magnitude of change in cloud base caused by land use changes is larger than changes caused by small changes in SST. The air masses in lowland regions are ultimately responsible for formation of orographic clouds in the Monteverde region. Thus similar to the lowland cloud fields, the modification of the lowland air masses from deforestation cause orographic clouds to form at higher altitudes.