Question

Is deforestation associated with global warming? Explain.

Answer 1

Plants use carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphere for the process of ‘photosynthesis’. When a lot of trees are cut down (i.e., deforestation), then a lesser number of trees will be left.

The lesser number of trees will use up less carbon dioxide, due to which the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will increase. Thus, deforestation increases the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Carbon dioxide gas traps the sun’s rays that are reflected by the earth (causing the greenhouse effect). Trapping of rays by carbon dioxide increases the temperature of earth’s atmosphere. This will lead to global warming.

The gradual increase in the overall temperature of earth’s atmosphere due to the greenhouse effect caused by the increased level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is called global warming. This explains that deforestation is strongly associated with global warming.