Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question identifies a misconception regarding how forests affect local microclimates and environmental health.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
• Temperature Moderation: Forests act as a thermal buffer. They reduce the daily maximum temperature (by shading the ground) but they actually increase the daily minimum temperature (at night).
• Radiation Trap: At night, the forest canopy acts like a blanket, trapping the long-wave radiation (heat) emitted from the ground and preventing it from escaping into the atmosphere. This makes the forest floor warmer than an open field at night. Therefore, statement (A) is false.
• Humidity (B): Trees release water vapor through transpiration, which significantly increases the relative humidity of the surrounding air.
• Flood Control (C): The forest floor (litter and humus) acts as a sponge, increasing soil infiltration and slowing down surface runoff, which effectively checks flash floods.
• Pollution Mitigation (D): Trees act as physical filters for dust, absorb chemical pollutants like $SO_2$ and $CO_2$, and act as sound barriers to reduce noise pollution.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Statement (A) is not true because forests moderate temperature by keeping nights warmer (raising the minimum temp) and days cooler.