Microclimates In The Great Basin – The Hidden Heroes Of…

by | Feb 20, 2025 | UNEP | 0 comments

ACRI - Solve the water problem

Microclimates in the Great Basin in ACRI (Active Climate Rescue Initiative)

Microclimates in the Great Basin vs. UNEP

Plant Power: Our Unsung Climate Heroes

Did you know that the quiet heroes in the fight against climate change are right under our feet and all around us? Plants, soils, and water hold the secret to keeping our planet’s climate in harmony.

Trees: The Oxygenators and Coolers

Trees are like the lungs of our planet. They suck up carbon dioxide, which is a major culprit behind global warming, and release oxygen, the air we breathe. Plus, as trees grow, they release water vapor through their leaves, which helps cool the air.

Soils: The Nutrient Providers and Carbon Stashers

Healthy soils are like a rich pantry for plants. They provide essential nutrients that help plants thrive. And when plants thrive, they suck up more carbon dioxide, which gets stored in the soil. Win-win!

Water: The Climate Regulator

Plants need water to grow, and when they take it up, they release water vapor back into the atmosphere. This water vapor acts like a blanket, trapping heat in the atmosphere and keeping the climate stable.

How Can We Help?

To protect our climate heroes, we need to:

  • Plant More Trees: Let’s give trees the space they need to do their climate-cooling magic.
  • Care for Our Soils: Avoid over-farming and use organic fertilizers to keep soils robust.
  • Conserve Water: Respect our water resources and reduce our consumption.

By working together, we can empower these hidden heroes to safeguard our planet for generations to come. It’s time to give plants, soils, and water the appreciation they deserve as the unsung heroes of climate change!

The Hidden Heroes of Climate Change: Plants, Soils, and Water

TL;DR: Plants, especially trees, are key to keeping the Earth’s climate in check. They soak up water and release it back into the air, helping clouds form and rain to fall. But when we cut down forests, the land dries out, gets hotter, and makes droughts more likely. To fight climate change, we need to plant more trees and take care of the soil, so we can have a healthy planet for everyone.

The Amazing Water Cycle

You already know that rain falls from the sky, right? But where does that rain come from? The answer is a big, amazing cycle called the water cycle. And plants are important parts of this cycle!

Think of trees as giant water fountains. They pull water up from the ground through their roots and then release it back into the air through their leaves. This process, called transpiration, is like trees breathing out water vapor.

This water vapor rises up into the air and helps to form clouds. When the clouds get full of water, it falls back to the Earth as rain or snow. This is how the water cycle keeps going!

How Deforestation Hurts the Climate

Now, imagine what happens when we cut down lots of trees, or deforestation. Without those trees, the ground becomes drier and hotter. The water cycle gets disrupted because there are fewer trees to release water vapor back into the atmosphere.

Think of it like this: deforestation is like shutting off a bunch of water fountains! When that happens, there is less water in the air, which can lead to droughts and higher temperatures. This is why it’s so important to protect our forests.

Soil: The Earth’s Water Sponge

The soil is like a giant sponge. It soaks up water and keeps it from running off too quickly. Healthy soil helps keep the water cycle going smoothly. When the soil is healthy, trees and other plants can grow strong and strong plants mean more transpiration, which helps keep the climate balanced.

But when we degrade the soil by polluting it or using it too hard, it becomes less able to hold water. This makes droughts even worse.

What Can We Do?

So, what can we do to help? We can all play a part in protecting the water cycle and fighting climate change!

  • Plant trees: Every tree we plant is like adding another water fountain to the world!
  • Take care of the soil: Don’t over-farm the land, and use organic fertilizers to keep the soil healthy.
  • Support reforestation: This means planting trees where they have been cut down, restoring forests and helping the water cycle to work properly.
  • Practice sustainable land use: This means using the land in a way that doesn’t harm the environment.

We need to understand that trees, soil, and water are all connected. Protecting them is crucial for protecting our planet and its amazing climate.


More on Microclimates in the Great Basin

Active Climate Rescue Initiative

What’s happening with our Water Cycle?

Have you seen this?

Be Water Cycle Wise

Visit ACRI

Active Climate Rescue

Support a Better Climate for All

This will close in 0 seconds