Question

As humans continue to use fossil fuels as a primary source of energy, the amount of carbon entering the atmosphere from fossil fuel combustion will continue to increase dramatically. What is the effect of large-scale deforestation on the carbon in the atmosphere

Answer 1

Large-scale deforestation leads to increased atmospheric carbon by reducing the number of carbon-absorbing trees and releasing stored carbon when trees are burned or decompose. This, combined with the significant carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, exacerbates climate change and disrupts the carbon cycle.

Step-by-step explanation:

The effect of large-scale deforestation on the carbon in the atmosphere is significant and detrimental. As deforestation occurs, the number of trees capable of absorbing carbon dioxide decreases, leading to higher concentrations of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Moreover, when the biomass from deforestation is burned or decomposes, the carbon stored within is released back into the atmosphere, further exacerbating the issue.

The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which are rich in carbon content, contributes substantially to atmospheric carbon. This additional release of carbon dioxide, combined with the reduction in carbon sequestration due to deforestation, significantly affects Earth's climate and temperature regulation, leading to global climate change.

With human activity altering the carbon cycle, and rising levels of greenhouse gases, there is a pressing need for a shift towards alternative energy sources and the conservation of forests, which act as carbon sinks, to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Answer 2

The earlier existing organisms including both flora and fauna, that were buried millions of years back, were converted into fossils and these fossil fuels are some of its forms.

The use of fossil fuels has extensively increased over the last few decades. This increasing consumption of fossil fuels has a negative effect as it releases a large amount of carbon into the atmosphere.

The cutting of trees also affects the atmosphere, because in the absence of trees, the CO₂ will not be absorbed by the plants and there will be less amount of O₂ as well. This will lead to an increasing amount of carbon into the atmosphere.

This carbon content when increases in its amount and rapid deforestation can lead to the following consequences-

• Increasing the amount of Carbon in the atmosphere will lead to an increase in the global surface temperature of the earth. This would lead to the melting of the ice in the colder regions and higher latitudes, thereby rising the sea level.

• Deforestation will lead to a high rate of wind erosion, where the soil will be dry, lacking in the moisture content, and wind will carry away its valuable minerals. Rapid surface runoff or flooding also will result. It will result in the loss of soil fertility.

• It will be difficult for organisms to survive in such a hot and harsh condition.