Current climate models treat forests as passive carbon reservoirs, parameterizing their surface properties but largely missing their active role as planetary hydraulic infrastructure. We propose, for the first time, a framework integrating three previously independent mechanisms into a single physical chain. The three pillars are: (1) the Aerosol Baseline, where intact forests contribute to the preindustrial CCN reference state over continents; (2) the Stomata-Cumulus Pump, where groundwater availability acts as a binary gate for vertical energy export; and (3) the Tradewind Engine, where condensation-driven pressure gradients sustain horizontal atmospheric circulation. Using Convergent Cross-Mapping (CCM) rather than Granger causality, we find evidence for biotic-atmosphere coupling (ρ = 0.72) between forest-derived aerosols and regional precipitation. A preliminary Planetary Hydraulic Health Index (PHHI) suggests critical stress in the Maritime Continent (Borneo: 48% of baseline wind force remaining), while the Amazon and Congo basins appear marginally stable (95–98%). This framework identifies additional mechanisms consistent with the anomalous 2023–2025 warming, complementing established explanations.
Jörg Mayer (2026) studied this question.