Question

humans and the carbon cycle

1. figure 3 shows the effect of human population on the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. why would deforestation, combined with burning of fossil fuels after the industrial revolution, cause more carbon dioxide to be in the atmosphere?

Explanation:

Burning fossil fuels releases stored - carbon as CO₂. Deforestation reduces trees that absorb CO₂ through photosynthesis. So, more CO₂ accumulates in the atmosphere.

Answer:

Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide that was stored in the fuels. Deforestation reduces the number of trees which would otherwise absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, thus leading to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.