Crossref journal-article
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Science (221)
Abstract

Observations are reported of high-albedo soils denuded by overgrazing which appear bright, in high contrast to regions covered by natural vegetation. Measurements and modeling show that the denuded surfaces are cooler, when compared under sunlit conditions. This observed "thermal depression" effect should, on theoretical grounds, result in a decreased lifting of air necessary for cloud formation and precipitation, and thus lead to regional climatic desertification.

Bibliography

Otterman, J. (1974). Baring High-Albedo Soils by Overgrazing: A Hypothesized Desertification Mechanism. Science, 186(4163), 531–533.

Authors 1
  1. Joseph Otterman (first)
References 14 Referenced 272
  1. ASHBURN, E.V., SPECTRAL DIFFUSE REFLECTANCE OF DESERT SURFACES, JOURNAL OF THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 46: 583 (1956). (10.1364/JOSA.46.000583) / JOURNAL OF THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (1956)
  2. BLACK, J.F., JOURNAL OF APPLIED METEOROLOGY 2: 557 (1963). (10.1175/1520-0450(1963)002<0557:TUOACT>2.0.CO;2) / JOURNAL OF APPLIED METEOROLOGY (1963)
  3. BRYSON, R.A., POSSIBILITIES OF MAJOR CLIMATIC MODIFICATION AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS - NORTHWEST INDIA A CASE FOR STUDY, BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY 48: 136 (1967). (10.1175/1520-0477-48.3.136) / BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY (1967)
  4. BRYSON R. A. Climatic Modification by Air Pollution 2: the Sahelian Effect UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES REPORT 9 (1973).
  5. Charney J. G. paper presented as the Symons Lecture Royal Meteorological Society London. March (1974).
  6. Flohn J. paper A.3.5 presented at the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Symposium of Earth Survey Problems Konstantz Germany May (1973).
  7. Kondratyev, K. Y., Radiation in the Atmosphere: 423 (1969). / Radiation in the Atmosphere (1969)
  8. MALKUS, J.S., THE FLOW OF A STABLE ATMOSPHERE OVER A HEATED ISLAND .1., JOURNAL OF METEOROLOGY 10: 30 (1953). (10.1175/1520-0469(1953)010<0030:TFOASA>2.0.CO;2) / JOURNAL OF METEOROLOGY (1953)
  9. OTTERMAN, J, 21 PASS INT EL E NUC: 197 (1974). / 21 PASS INT EL E NUC (1974)
  10. Reitan, C. R., Deserts of the World: 32 (1968). / Deserts of the World (1968)
  11. ROSENBERG E THESIS TEL AVIV U (1974).
  12. STERN, M.E., THE FLOW OF A STABLE ATMOSPHERE OVER A HEATED ISLAND, .2., JOURNAL OF METEOROLOGY 10: 105 (1953). (10.1175/1520-0469(1953)010<0105:TFOASA>2.0.CO;2) / JOURNAL OF METEOROLOGY (1953)
  13. STERN, M.E., THEORY OF THE MEAN ATMOSPHERIC PERTURBATIONS PRODUCED BY DIFFERENTIAL SURFACE HEATING, JOURNAL OF METEOROLOGY 11: 495 (1954). (10.1175/1520-0469(1954)011<0495:TOTMAP>2.0.CO;2) / JOURNAL OF METEOROLOGY (1954)
  14. Trewartha, G., The Earth's Problem Climates: 166 (1961). / The Earth's Problem Climates (1961)
Dates
Type When
Created 18 years, 10 months ago (Oct. 5, 2006, 11:10 a.m.)
Deposited 1 year, 7 months ago (Jan. 11, 2024, 3:31 p.m.)
Indexed 1 month, 2 weeks ago (July 12, 2025, 6:44 p.m.)
Issued 50 years, 9 months ago (Nov. 8, 1974)
Published 50 years, 9 months ago (Nov. 8, 1974)
Published Print 50 years, 9 months ago (Nov. 8, 1974)
Funders 0

None

@article{Otterman_1974, title={Baring High-Albedo Soils by Overgrazing: A Hypothesized Desertification Mechanism}, volume={186}, ISSN={1095-9203}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.186.4163.531}, DOI={10.1126/science.186.4163.531}, number={4163}, journal={Science}, publisher={American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)}, author={Otterman, Joseph}, year={1974}, month=nov, pages={531–533} }