Would reclamation of deserts change the global climate?

Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives. read more

The degree of desert reclamation would determine the degree of climate change. Forests achieve two desirable outcomes. They undertake photosynthesis and they cool the ground. The most devastating effect of global warming/climate change is the increasing aridity of dry climates. read more

While Water serves as a long term heat reservoir, deserts have a very high albedo. Thus nighttime wind from the sea (not that this only happens if there is a stronger driver in the sea, in general in late nights, the breeze flows from land to sea, not the other way round) loses heat over desert. read more

Read all of James' series that looks into climate change's effects on the plants, animals and people of the desert. Correction: An earlier version of this post said that the Joshua Trees in Joshua Tree National Forest could be gone in a few decades. read more