How trees make rain

In the Amazon, a huge mass of water hovers above the canopy in the form of mist and clouds. It has been calculated that an adult tree evaporates up to 1000 litres a day. The whole forest thus releases over 20 billion tons a day, which is more than the Amazon river flow (about 18 billion tons a day).

How does it all work? Under the heat the trees perspire, just like us. This is called evapotranspiration. While raising into the air, the steam cools off and condenses into mist and clouds. The wind moves these clouds around and brings some welcome rain to the Amazon basin itself and to other parts of the continent.

In addition, the evapotranspiration cools off the air. This induces a pressure drop which attracts air from above the closest ocean, causing more rain. This recharges the trees, and the cycle can start again. This cycle is vital for the whole South American continent, which could turn into a desert without it.

Is this relevant in Australia? Yes. I found the comment below in an article on the Net:

“On average, 40% or more of the precipitation over land originates from evaporation and transpiration. When forests are replaced by pasture or crops, less water is evaporated from soil and vegetation, suppressing precipitation. Large-scale deforestation reduces rainfall in some areas by up to 30%.”

So, if you think we can get away with our world record of deforestation, you may need to think again.

Ref:

https://www.learningfromnature.com.au/drought-proof-increasing-rainfall/