Final answer:
Deforestation contributes to the release of carbon into the atmosphere due to the loss of trees that previously absorbed CO2, increasing the greenhouse effect and leading to global warming. The assertion that deforestation makes Earth more reflective, and therefore contributes to warming, is a misunderstanding; increased reflectivity typically leads to cooling. Overall, deforestation has a significant and complex impact on the climate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that deforestation releases carbon into the atmosphere, leading to warming, is True. When forests are cleared, the trees that previously absorbed carbon dioxide through photosynthesis are removed. This results in less carbon being sequestered in plant fibers. Often, the wood from deforestation is either left to decay, which releases carbon dioxide, or burned, which does the same but faster. Either process increases the amount of this potent greenhouse gas in our atmosphere, thus contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
However, the statement that deforestation changes the Earth's albedo, making it more reflective, is False. Albedo is a measure of how much sunlight the Earth's surface reflects back into space. Forests usually have a lower albedo because they absorb more sunlight, which helps the Earth to warm.
Replacing forests with surfaces that have a higher albedo, such as agricultural fields, or urban areas, can indeed lead to a more reflective Earth. But this increased reflectivity would generally be expected to have a cooling effect, not a warming one, because less sunlight is absorbed. However, it's also important to note that the overall impact of such changes in albedo is complex and can vary regionally.
In summary, deforestation contributes to climate change primarily by releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere, not by making the Earth more reflective. Human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation add to the global increase in carbon dioxide levels, which in turn enhances the greenhouse effect and drives climate change.