Rain forest water cycle

Question 1

main drivers of change

Answer 1

17% primary rain forest lost in last 50 years

80% due to cattle ranching

Question 2

Impacts on evapotranspiration

Answer 2

less trees= rain goes to floor, more surface flows as soils become dry and baked
air less moist= less cloud cover, more solar radiation reflected by cleared land
if less=less human= less transpiration

Question 3

impacts on rainfall

Answer 3

burning trees- higher density of airborne aerosols around which water vapor condenses, smaller droplets in clouds, less local rainfall

Question 4

impacts of flooding

Answer 4

more surface runoff/discharge from watershed

slash and burn=less porous soil, faster drainage, erosion and silting of rivers and lakes

Question 5

vegetation breezes?

Answer 5

over cleared land- air above crop/ranch land warms faster, rises faster, localized low pressure, draws in moist air of surrounding forest areas
increase in cloud coverage, thunderstorms and rainfall over cleared land