2025/11/07 by Mischler, Pierre, Louis Roujean, Jean, Chouteau, Alizée +1
#carbon sequestration #crop-livestock farming #forçage radiatif #polyculture-élevage #radiative forcing #satellite #séquestration carbone
paper · doi:10.17180/ciag-2025-vol107-art05
The Albedo-Prairies project measured albedo dynamics from 2021 to 2023 for 7 temporary or permanent grasslands scattered across mainland France. The results show that the albedo of grasslands is higher between autumn and spring and lower in summer. It can be less or more reduced by grazing intensity and even more so by mowing the grass. Drought accentuates more the fall in albedo in summer. The albedo measured on the ground of these grasslands can be used to calculate a negative radiative forcing of -6.8 W/m² compared with winter wheat. This means that grasslands have a cooling effect on the climate. Satellite measurements confirm the albedo trends measured on the ground by providing extensive coverage at the scale of the territory, which is the relevant landscape unit for land management and for assessing the regional climatic impact. The grassland albedo is a promising lever for mitigating climate change, at a similar level as soil carbon storage and reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions.