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How does deforestation contribute to rising global temperatures, and what are the long-term consequences?

Melisa Padly

Deforestation is one of the primary contributors to the global climate change phenomenon that we are witnessing today. It is the process of clearing forests or trees to make room for human activities such as agriculture, urbanization, and industrialization. This has had a profound impact on our planet, especially the global temperature.

One of the primary ways deforestation contributes to rising global temperatures is through the loss of trees. As they undergo photosynthesis, trees take in and store carbon dioxide thereby reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. With fewer trees, this natural process of carbon sequestration is disrupted. A significant amount of carbon stored in trees is released when they are burned, which occurs in slash-and-burn agriculture. This causes an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Also, the deforestation process releases carbon that's held in the soil at an elevated rate, which further increased the emission of CO2.

Another way deforestation contributes to rising global temperatures is through the modification of the local- and regional-climate. Trees are crucial to regulating the microclimate through evapotranspiration, which is how they move water from the roots to the atmosphere. The moisture released by the trees into the atmosphere assists in forming clouds, which reflects sunlight and helps cool the earth. Without the trees, the entire microclimate of a region gets affected and can exacerbate global warming.

Additionally, the long-term consequences of deforestation can be severe. With fewer trees, the earth's temperature is likely to increase, which can cause extreme weather conditions such as droughts, floods, and intense heatwaves. These events can lead to significant economic and social consequences, especially for communities that depend on agriculture and subsistence farming.

In conclusion, deforestation contributes to rising global temperatures through the loss of trees and the modification of microclimates. The long-term consequences are potentially severe and can result in extreme weather conditions, economic and social disruptions. Therefore it's crucial to address deforestation as a fundamental driver of global climate change, and we all have a role to play to restore, protect and conserve our forests.

In terms of additional questions, it's worth considering what other factors contribute to global warming besides deforestation. What is the impact of afforestation on reducing the progression of global warming? And what policies can we implement to encourage conservation?