Trees moderate the temperature in many ways. Forest soils contain water that evaporates into the air and back into the water cycle. The trees cover the forest ground to maintain the evaporation rate of the water in the soil. Without the cover of the trees, this water can evaporate much quicker than it should, which can dry out the ground and create desert like areas. The trees also cover the life under the branches from hot temperatures during the day and freezing temperatures at night. Without the trees, temperature changes to the species of plants and animals under them could be at potential risk to harmful and life threatening situations. Trees play a large part in absorbing harmful greenhouse gases that fuel global warming. Without as many trees, more of these harmful gases will enter our atmosphere which will increase the speed and severity of global warming. Trees are able to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by a process called photosynthesis, which is how plants make energy. Cutting down trees reduces the number of trees we have which increases the amount of carbon dioxide being put into our atmosphere. Trees within the forest store immense amounts of organic carbon inside of them, and these large amounts of carbon are also released into the atmosphere when trees are cut down.
The Greenhouse Effect
A greenhouse traps heat inside, and earth does the same. The natural greenhouse effect occurs when some of the sun’s infrared radiation gets trapped in the atmosphere and heats up. Harmful gases within the atmosphere reflect the heat towards the earth. This allows Earth to have a constant warm temperature, but recently, the harmful gases, especially carbon dioxide, have been exceeding in levels that are becoming harmful to the planet. Earth’s temperature is rising and it has been since 1750, roughly around the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Carbon dioxide levels alone have risen 36% since 1880. This is harmful to many plants and animals because they can not adapt to the increasing temperature of Earth, which can lead to endangerment and for some, extinction. As more trees are cut down, the levels of carbon dioxide will continue to rise, adding to the amount in the atmosphere which will add to global warming.
The Greenhouse Effect
A greenhouse traps heat inside, and earth does the same. The natural greenhouse effect occurs when some of the sun’s infrared radiation gets trapped in the atmosphere and heats up. Harmful gases within the atmosphere reflect the heat towards the earth. This allows Earth to have a constant warm temperature, but recently, the harmful gases, especially carbon dioxide, have been exceeding in levels that are becoming harmful to the planet. Earth’s temperature is rising and it has been since 1750, roughly around the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Carbon dioxide levels alone have risen 36% since 1880. This is harmful to many plants and animals because they can not adapt to the increasing temperature of Earth, which can lead to endangerment and for some, extinction. As more trees are cut down, the levels of carbon dioxide will continue to rise, adding to the amount in the atmosphere which will add to global warming.