Deforestation Affects the Soil, Water Cycle and Carbon Cycle

Question 1

Leaching - how do trees take up nutrients?

Answer 1

From the soil

Question 2

Leaching - why do they need to take up nutrients quickly?

Answer 2

Before they can be washed away (leached) by rain

Question 3

Leaching - when do they return the nutrients to the soil?

Answer 3

When leaves die

Question 4

Leaching - what happens when trees are removed?

Answer 4

Nutrients get leached away, but don’t get replaced, leaving infertile soil

Question 5

Soil erosion - what holds the soil together?

Answer 5

Tree roots

Question 6

Soil erosion - what happens when trees are removed?

Answer 6

Soil can be washed away by the rain (eroded), leaning infertile ground

Question 7

Disturbing the water cycle - what do trees stop rainwater from doing?

Answer 7

Reaching rivers too quickly

Question 8

Disturbing the water cycle - what happens to the rivers once trees are cut down?

Answer 8

The rainwater can run straight into the rivers - leading to flooding

Question 9

Disturbing the water cycle - what else from trees releases some of the rainwater back into the atmosphere?

Answer 9

Transpiration

Question 10

Disturbing the water cycle - what can cutting down trees do to the local climate?

Answer 10

Make it drier

Question 11

Disturbing the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen - how do forests take up CO2?

Answer 11

By photosynthesis

Question 12

Disturbing the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen - what do forests do with CO2?

Answer 12

Store it in wood, and slowly release it when they decompose

Question 13

Disturbing the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen - what happens when trees are cut down and burnt?

Answer 13

The stored carbon is released at once as CO2, contributing to global warning

Question 14

Disturbing the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen - What does fewer trees in the forest also mean?

Answer 14

Less photosynthesis takes place, releasing less oxygen, causing oxygen level in the atmosphere to drop

Question 15

What are 4 nasty effects?

Answer 15

Leaching
Soil erosion
Disturbing the water cycle
Disturbing the balance of CO2 and oxygen;