Deforestation Affects the Soil, Water Cycle and Carbon Cycle Flashcards
Leaching - how do trees take up nutrients?
From the soil
Leaching - why do they need to take up nutrients quickly?
Before they can be washed away (leached) by rain
Leaching - when do they return the nutrients to the soil?
When leaves die
Leaching - what happens when trees are removed?
Nutrients get leached away, but don’t get replaced, leaving infertile soil
Soil erosion - what holds the soil together?
Tree roots
Soil erosion - what happens when trees are removed?
Soil can be washed away by the rain (eroded), leaning infertile ground
Disturbing the water cycle - what do trees stop rainwater from doing?
Reaching rivers too quickly
Disturbing the water cycle - what happens to the rivers once trees are cut down?
The rainwater can run straight into the rivers - leading to flooding
Disturbing the water cycle - what else from trees releases some of the rainwater back into the atmosphere?
Transpiration
Disturbing the water cycle - what can cutting down trees do to the local climate?
Make it drier
Disturbing the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen - how do forests take up CO2?
By photosynthesis
Disturbing the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen - what do forests do with CO2?
Store it in wood, and slowly release it when they decompose
Disturbing the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen - what happens when trees are cut down and burnt?
The stored carbon is released at once as CO2, contributing to global warning
Disturbing the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen - What does fewer trees in the forest also mean?
Less photosynthesis takes place, releasing less oxygen, causing oxygen level in the atmosphere to drop
What are 4 nasty effects?
Leaching
Soil erosion
Disturbing the water cycle
Disturbing the balance of CO2 and oxygen;
