Increased precipitation over land due to climate feedback of large-scale bioenergy cultivation

Zhao Li, Philippe Ciais, Jonathon S. Wright, Yong Wang, Shu Liu, Jingmeng Wang, Laurent Z. X. Li, Hui Lu, Xiaomeng Huang, Lei Zhu, Daniel S. Goll and Wei Li ()
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Zhao Li: Tsinghua University
Philippe Ciais: Université Paris-Saclay
Jonathon S. Wright: Tsinghua University
Yong Wang: Tsinghua University
Shu Liu: Tsinghua University
Jingmeng Wang: Tsinghua University
Laurent Z. X. Li: Sorbonne Université, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Ecole Polytechnique
Hui Lu: Tsinghua University
Xiaomeng Huang: Tsinghua University
Lei Zhu: Tsinghua University
Daniel S. Goll: Université Paris Saclay, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, LSCE/IPSL
Wei Li: Tsinghua University

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is considered to be a key technology for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, large-scale bioenergy crop cultivation results in land cover changes and activates biophysical effects on climate, with earth’s water recycling altered and energy budget re-adjusted. Here, we use a coupled atmosphere-land model with explicit representations of high-transpiration woody (i.e., eucalypt) and low-transpiration herbaceous (i.e., switchgrass) bioenergy crops to investigate the range of impact of large-scale rainfed bioenergy crop cultivation on the global water cycle and atmospheric water recycling. We find that global land precipitation increases under BECCS scenarios, due to enhanced evapotranspiration and inland moisture advection. Despite enhanced evapotranspiration, soil moisture decreases only slightly, due to increased precipitation and reduced runoff. Our results indicate that, at the global scale, the water consumption by bioenergy crop growth would be partially compensated by atmospheric feedbacks. Thus, to support more effective climate mitigation policies, a more comprehensive assessment, including the biophysical effects of bioenergy cultivation, is highly recommended.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39803-9

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