Categories: All - agriculture - rainfall - carbon - temperature

by ANG SI JIA APRIL N/A 9 years ago

264

Tropical Rainforests

Tropical rainforests play a crucial role in regulating the global climate, affecting weather patterns far beyond their immediate regions. Their destruction has begun to alter regional climates, delaying rainy seasons in areas like the Amazon and intensifying dry seasons in places such as Thailand.

Tropical Rainforests

Tropical Rainforests

Impacts of destruction of rainforests

Impacts that extend far beyond the tropics
Affect agriculture in North America, Asia and Europe
Rainfall patterns affected

E.g. UK and Hawaii could see an increase in rainfall.

UK Midwest and Southern France could see a decrease in rainfall.

Alter moisture and air flow
Rises in temperature that happen right away
Immediate fluctuations in rainfall patterns
Destruction of forests starting to affect regional climates
E.g. Dry season in Thailand has become drier
E.g. Rainy season in the Amazon delayed by up to 2 weeks
Affects farmers negatively
Difficult to adapt to increased floods and parched soil

Roles of rainforests

Absorb carbon dioxide and renew atmospheric oxygen
Affect the weather in the rest of the world
Moderators for climate
Arbiters for global water supply
Shelters for various species

Reasons for clearing them

Cattle ranching
Commercial agriculture