Effects of deforestation?
Reveal answer
More CO₂, less biodiversity, erosion, leaching, water cycle changed.
Key words: erosion
5(d) HUMAN INFLUENCES ON THE ENVIRONMENT · RECALL
5.18B Deforestation
15 recall questions · Biology only (B): not in Science (Double Award). Answer from memory, reveal the answer, then rate yourself. Ratings stay on this device.
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Why does soil erode after deforestation?
Reveal answer
No roots to hold soil → rain washes it away.
Key words: roots
What is leaching?
Reveal answer
Minerals washed out of soil.
Key words: washed
How does deforestation affect rainfall?
Reveal answer
Less transpiration → less water vapour → less rain.
Key words: transpiration
One way to reduce deforestation effects?
Reveal answer
Reforestation / sustainable logging.
Key words: reforestation
What is meant by the term soil erosion?
Reveal answer
Removal of topsoil by wind or water.
Key words: soil erosion
What is meant by the term evapotranspiration?
Reveal answer
Water loss from an area by evaporation and transpiration combined.
Key words: evapotranspiration
Effects of deforestation: for Leaching, give the mechanism and the consequence.
Reveal answer
Mechanism: Rain washes minerals out of unprotected soil. Consequence: Soil becomes infertile.
Key words: Leaching
Effects of deforestation: for Soil erosion, give the mechanism and the consequence.
Reveal answer
Mechanism: No roots to bind soil or litter to protect it. Consequence: Topsoil lost; rivers silt up.
Key words: Soil erosion
Effects of deforestation: for Disturbed evapotranspiration, give the mechanism and the consequence.
Reveal answer
Mechanism: Fewer leaves transpiring. Consequence: Less rainfall locally; more run-off and flooding.
Key words: Disturbed evapotranspiration
Effects of deforestation: for Carbon cycle, give the mechanism and the consequence.
Reveal answer
Mechanism: Less photosynthesis; burning releases CO₂. Consequence: Atmospheric CO₂ rises.
Key words: Carbon cycle
Effects of deforestation: for Balance of gases, give the mechanism and the consequence.
Reveal answer
Mechanism: Less CO₂ absorbed and less O₂ released. Consequence: Contributes to enhanced greenhouse effect.
Key words: Balance of gases
True or false, and why? “Cutting down rainforest will make Earth run out of oxygen.”
Reveal answer
False. The atmospheric oxygen store is very large; the significant effect is on carbon dioxide and biodiversity.
True or false, and why? “Deforestation only affects the forest area.”
Reveal answer
False. Effects reach rivers, regional rainfall and the global carbon cycle.
True or false, and why? “Leaching and erosion are the same.”
Reveal answer
False. Leaching removes dissolved minerals; erosion removes the soil itself.