Year 9 - Science
Deforestation affects the carbon and water cycles
Climate change and biodiversity
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils learn about the impact of agriculture and deforestation on biodiversity, and to more thoroughly consider the effects of climate change on biodiversity and food production.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how deforestation disrupts the carbon and water cycles, and describe ways to reduce these impacts.
Key Notes
- Deforestation disrupts the carbon cycle because less CO₂ is absorbed from the atmosphere for photosynthesis
- CO₂ is a greenhouse gas in the atmosphere that enhances the greenhouse effect and contributes to climate change
- Deforestation disrupts the water cycle because less water is absorbed and transpired
- Deforestation leads to more surface runoff of water, increasing flooding and putting our food security at risk
- Mitigation strategies include reforestation and legal protection of forests to prevent deforestation
Vocabulary To Learn
- carbon cycle: a set of processes that transfer carbon between the atmosphere, organisms and Earth
- deforestation: the removal of trees, often to use the land for agriculture or building
- climate change: a long-term shift in weather patterns
- food security: having reliable access to enough safe and nutritious food to meet the needs of the human population
- water cycle: a set of processes that transfer water between the atmosphere, organisms and Earth
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Thinking that we can chop down and destroy forests without affecting ecosystems.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Deforestation disrupts the carbon cycle because less CO₂ is absorbed from the atmosphere for photosynthesis. CO₂ is a greenhouse gas in the atmosphere that enhances the greenhouse effect and contributes to climate change.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'carbon cycle'
a set of processes that transfer carbon between the atmosphere, organisms and Earth. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Thinking that we can chop down and destroy forests without affecting ecosystems. Correction: The lessons explores how deforestation disrupts key processes in the carbon cycle and the water cycle, and how this can increase climate change, flooding, and put our food security at risk.
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