carbon cycle- threats to water and carbon cycle

Deforestation

impacts on water cycle:

• less interception so more surface runoff and shorter lag time

• shower lag time will increase flooding risk

• more soil erosion as there are no tree roots to bind soil together

• eroded material in rivers

• less evaporation from vegetation

impacts on carbon cycle:

• reduction in carbon stored in the biosphere

• reduction in carbon absorbed for photosynthesis

• more carbon released from combustion

Grassland conversion

role of grasslands:

• traps moisture and floodwaters

• absorbs toxins from soil

• provide cover for dry soils

• provide cover for dry soils

• provides habitats for wildlife

• acts as carbon sink

impacts on carbon cycle:

converting grasslands into agricultural farms will

• release CO2 into the atmosphere initially

• there is a net increase in CO2 emissions as biofuel crops need fertilisers

• cultivated soil I store susceptible to erosion

Ocean Health

As CO2 increase the acidity of the ocean increases

overfishing is also creating imbalance in ocean health, threatening ocean security in future

• fishing supports 500 million people of which 90% live in LDCs

• fish is a cultural choice for wealthy, while a necessity for people in LEDCs

Climate Change

impacts on water cycle:

• more frequent and more intense storms and hurricanes

• using sea levels, therefore more coastal erosion and some land lost

• more forewent floods, droughts and heatwaves

impacts on the carbon cycle;

• more CO2 being released from boreal forests as they become drier and forest fires start

• CH4 from thawing permafrost

• CH4 from the destabilisation of wetlands