Future Impacts of the Reforestation Policy on the amospheric parameters: A sensitivity study over Ireland

The increase of temperature attributed to anthropogenic emissions is projected to continue in future climate scenarios. Several protocols and policies are being put in place in several European countries to reduce both emissions and impact of human activities. The Irish Reforestation policy is a good example of such protocols. Nevertheless often contemplated policies do not take into account their potential effects on the atmospheric variables. This study aims to assess the influence of the increase of vegetation cover over Ireland, with respect to the surface temperature and the livestock heat comfort, using the Weather Research Forecast (WRF) model. Two main multi-scale numerical simulations are performed: (i) a control scenario with no change in vegetation cover and (ii) a scenario with increased tree cover based on the suggested Irish Reforestation policy. The vegetation change increases the temperature over the simulated domain and moreover, it enhances the livestock heat discomfort during the day-time, with different magnitude all over the domain. It is concluded that the reforestation policy, which is introduced to mitigate the greenhouse emissions, causes a further increase in the temperature and livestock heat discomfort.