Question

shows the same area in 2012. the light-colored areas are bare land with few trees. the dark-colored areas are thick forests. on figure 2, choose the areas where soil erosion is likely to occur.

Explanation:

Analyze the prompt and image text

The prompt states: "The light-colored areas are bare land with few trees. The dark-colored areas are thick forests. On figure 2, choose the areas where soil erosion is likely to occur."

Understand the mechanism of soil erosion

We apply the concept of Geological Processes. Vegetation, especially thick forests, plays a critical role in preventing soil erosion. Tree roots anchor the soil in place, and the forest canopy reduces the impact of heavy rain on the ground. When forests are cleared (deforested), leaving bare land with few trees (the light-colored areas), the soil is exposed directly to wind and rain, making these areas highly susceptible to soil erosion.

Evaluate the red markers on Figure 2

Figure 2 (the right image) shows five red square markers placed over different regions:

• Left-middle marker: Located in a light-colored, cleared area (bare land).
• Top-middle marker: Located in a dark-green, forested area.
• Bottom-middle marker: Located in a dark-green, forested area.
• Right-middle marker: Located in a light-colored, cleared area (bare land).
• Far-right/bottom-right marker: Located in a light-colored, cleared area (bare land).

Identify the correct areas

Since soil erosion is highly likely to occur in bare, deforested, light-colored areas with few trees, the correct areas to select are those marked in the light-colored regions.

These correspond to:

1. The marker on the left (within the fishbone-pattern cleared land).
2. The marker in the center-right (within the large cleared area).
3. The marker on the far right/bottom-right (within the cleared area).

Answer:

Soil erosion is most likely to occur in the light-colored areas (bare land with few trees) because they lack the protective forest canopy and root systems that anchor the soil.

Therefore, you should select the three red markers located in the light-colored areas:

1. The marker on the left (in the cleared, fishbone-pattern area).
2. The marker in the center-right (in the large cleared area).
3. The marker on the far right/bottom-right (in the cleared area).

Do not select the two markers located in the dark-green, forested areas (top-middle and bottom-middle), as the thick forest protects those areas from erosion.