explain the interactions between the four spheres Flashcards
explain?
Cattle chew the vegetation/grass and pull out the roots leaving the soil bare – this reduces the amount of biosphere and less CO2 is absorbed from the atmosphere (carbon sink).
When vegetation is removed, it weakens the earth’s outer layer (lithosphere/geosphere). This happens because the plants are no longer holding the soil together, leaving it vulnerable to the forces of nature. This can lead to soil erosion or degradation, as the soil gets exposed and carried away by wind or water.
With no vegetation cover to protect it, when it rains the exposed soil may be washed or blown away (soil erosion), sometimes ending up in the rivers which raises the beds and could potentially lead to riverine flooding. The hydrosphere is then impacted.
With a reduction in biosphere, there is less vegetation to absorb precipitation and therefore less transpiration (the release of water from plant leaves) by plants. This will make the atmosphere drier.
