Question

1. how does deforestation impact the carbon cycle? *

it increases carbon storage in trees.
it reduces the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.
it enhances carbon sequestration in the soil.
it decreases the uptake of carbon dioxide by plants.

Explanation:

Deforestation means cutting down trees. Trees absorb carbon dioxide (\(CO_2\)) for photosynthesis. When there are fewer trees (due to deforestation), there are fewer plants to take in \(CO_2\) from the atmosphere.

Option 1: Cutting trees (deforestation) cannot increase carbon storage in trees as the number of trees is reduced.
Option 2: When trees are cut, the carbon stored in them is released (either through decomposition or burning in some cases of deforestation), and also, since there are fewer trees to absorb \(CO_2\), the amount of \(CO_2\) in the atmosphere actually increases, not reduces.
Option 3: Deforestation disturbs the soil - related carbon cycle processes. For example, it can lead to soil erosion. It does not enhance carbon sequestration (storage) in the soil.
Option 4: Since the number of plants (trees) is reduced (deforestation), the total uptake of \(CO_2\) by plants (which occurs via photosynthesis) decreases.

Answer:

D. It decreases the uptake of carbon dioxide by plants.