Local Climate Effects of Oil Palm Expansion in Indonesia

Investigator: 
Natalie Schultz
Advisor: 
Xuhui Lee
Start Date: 
May, 2013
Description: 

Dramatic land use change has been taking place in Indonesia over the past few decades and is expected to accelerate in the future, due in large part to the expansion of oil palm plantations. Little research has been conducted in this region on the impacts of deforestation and the growth of oil palm on regional climate. The objectives of this research are to examine how the conversion of tropical rainforest to intensive oil palm plantations affects the surface energy budget and local climate.