PD5,Group2

Alexander Merrit, Logan Harris, Kevin Kohler, Alexis Dunning. Because of a very busy schedule, this fall’s EarthKAM mission will consist of an investigation into how certain human activities affect the climate of an area. For our investigation, we choose to look at: How is the climate of an area affected by deforestation and the resulting agricultural or urban land use? How the global ecosystem is affected by deforestation and the result in agricultural or urban land use, and what we can do to reduce the impact of deforestation.

The climate of an area is affected by deforestation because trees are what cools and regulates the earth’s climate. Also trees determine rainfall and replenish the atmosphere. Therefore, if the trees did not determine rainfall and replenish the earth the crops, grass, and plants will not grow as they are supposed to.

The global ecosystem is affected by deforestation and resulting in agricultural or urban land use because the forest acts as a major carbon store. When carbon is taken up from the atmosphere and is used to produce the carbohydrates, fats, and proteins that make up the tree. When the forests are cleared and the trees and burnt or they rot this causes carbon to release as CO2. This leads to an increase in the atmospheric CO2 concentration. Land use changes are responsible for 15 to 20% of current carbon dioxide emission. Soil erosion cause the loss of protective cover of vegetation and more soil is lost. The water cycle is affected because the trees draw ground water up through their roots and release into the atmosphere. Silting the water courses lakes and dams. This occurs as a result of soil erosion. As the habitat of species are destroyed the number of species decline.

We can do several things to reduce the effects of deforestation. We can recycle and look for the recycle mark on items we purchase. It usually takes less energy to make recycled products than to make new ones. We can also plant trees. This helps to reduce greenhouse gases. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the air. We need to buy products that do not use as much energy. By conserving energy we help reduce climate changes and make the earth a better place. Some products we buy are made specially to save energy. Some of the products are cars and stereos. The main idea to this whole situation is that deforestation is bad. Also deforestation is affected by the climate because trees cool down the earth. Deforestation affects the global ecosystem because trees are animal’s homes. And last, we can reduce all of this by donating money to the places that need help replanting trees.

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