Deforestation
How does it effect our lithosphere?
What is deforestation?
Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make land for other uses. There is an estimated 18 million acres of forest lost each year. This effects many things on our planet, so people are trying to make ways to combat it.
Lithosphere
The lithosphere is the hard outer section of the earth, this includes the crust and the upper portion of the mantle. It is thinnest at the mid-ocean ridge and thickest at continental cratons. The lithosphere interacts with the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and cryosphere to influence the climate and landscape of our planet.
Effects
Climate change
Trees naturally hold carbon and produce oxygen, they also get rid of carbon dioxide. When trees are cut down they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, are forcing climate change. Deforestation is one of the leading causes of climate change and is dramatically effecting organisms on our planet.
Loss of species
Around 70% of the worlds plants and animals live in forests. Since deforestation has became frequent these many species of plants and animals are dying, some are even at risk of extinction. By having so many types of organisms effected this has a major impact on the environment.
Water cycle
Trees keep a balance between the water on land and the water in the atmosphere. They do this by absorbing rain as it falls and also releasing water vapor into the atmosphere. Trees also lessen pollution in water by stopping polluted runoff. Deforestation takes away trees which disrupts the water cycle.
Erosion
Trees and their roots anchor soil and hold it into place. Deforestation has taken an anchor away causing erosion. This leads to vegetation growth problems and complications with pollution and runoff. It also hurts people, plants, and other animals because of its negative impact.
Life quality
Deforestation gives way to a lot of pollution which effects humans and other animals. Water quality around areas where deforestation has take place reach a dangerous low. This is because pollutants like silt and other minerals find their way into streams, lakes, dams, and other water sources.
Economic effects
Many people are directly effected by deforestation and suffer the consequences because of it. Villagers have had to move away to urban cities because deforestation ruined their way of life. It also destroys sources of medicine, increases flooding, and can cause scarcity of food.
Watch the video below for more information
Deforestation
Deforestation and me
Deforestation has many indirect effects on me and some direct effects. Over the past few years there has been a lot more logging in Statesville and around it. It has directly effected me because their used to be lots of forest land around my house, though now there is a lot less than their used to be. It has taken away places for me and my neighbors to walk and see nature, and it has also taken away the habitats of many of the animals we liked to watch or hunt. Indirectly it has effected me through climate change. Temperatures have risen over the years and it has caused droughts and other complications.
Summary
Deforestation has major effects on the lithosphere and the organisms living on it. It ties in with the other lessons we have learned this week. Examples of that could be urbanization and farming practices. Deforestation is sometimes used specifically to make farm land, though people have instead been trying to teach others not to do this and rather improve the land that they have. Urbanization also ties in because deforestation has cause people to move to urban areas and can also make more room for urban places that need to expand. Deforestation has many negative effects on us and our environment, and therefore needs to stop and be managed.
URL's
https://www.gapyear.com/articles/121053/deforestation-in-south-america
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/encyclopedia/lithosphere/
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/lithosphere.aspx
http://www.livescience.com/27692-deforestation.html
http://www.slideshare.net/threeseconds/deforestation-causes-effects-and-solutions
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview/
http://deforestation-kush.blogspot.com/2010/12/earths-spheres.html?_sm_au_=iVVrWP0r4TRtrqTJ
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0908/S00300.htm
http://remaingreen.weebly.com/the-downside-to-deforestation.html
http://everybodysearth.qwriting.qc.cuny.edu/2013/12/18/the-global-impact-of-deforestation-in-brazil/