Homework Solution

TQ 9-3

Reasons why deforestation contributes to global warming:

• The loss of forests reduces a sink for CO₂, increasing the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere.
   
• If deforestation results in the burning of wood and vegetation either for land clearing or as an energy source, CO₂ from combustion is added to the atmosphere.
   
• If deforestation results in the decay of biomass, CO₂ and CH₄ are placed into the atmosphere.

Deforestation also results in an increase in albedo reflecting more solar radiation than when forested. This effect would result in global cooling. It is expected that the contributions to global warming would outweigh this cooling effect.