Clearcutting (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Flashcards
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Define clearcutting.
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Cards in this collection (20)
Define clearcutting.
Clearcutting is a logging practice where all trees in an area are removed at the same time.
Why is clearcutting economically efficient?
Clearcutting maximizes timber yield in a single harvest, which reduces logging costs.
Clearcutting lets sunlight reach the forest floor, encouraging the growth of species.
Clearcutting lets sunlight reach the forest floor, encouraging the growth of pioneer species.
True or False?
Clearcutting increases the risk of wildfires.
False.
Removing old, dry trees reduces the fuel available for wildfires.
How does clearcutting cause soil erosion?
Removing tree roots weakens the soil, leading to increased runoff and loss of nutrients.
How does clearcutting reduce water quality in nearby streams?
Loose soil enters nearby water bodies, causing sedimentation that reduces water quality.
True or False?
Loss of shade is the only way clearcutting warms nearby streams.
False.
Suspended sediments washed in from eroded soil also absorb solar radiation, warming the upper water column.
How does thermal pollution from clearcutting affect aquatic ecosystems?
Thermal pollution reduces dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, which stresses fish and other aquatic organisms.
Define deforestation.
Deforestation is the large-scale removal of forests to create non-forested areas, for example for agriculture, mining, or urban development.
How do warmer soil temperatures after clearcutting affect plant growth?
Warmer soil accelerates evaporation, reducing soil moisture and making it harder for plants to grow.
Why can clearcutting affect water quality far from the logging site?
Sediment, runoff, and temperature impacts are carried downstream through the entire watershed.
How does deforestation increase atmospheric CO₂?
Trees are carbon sinks; when they are cut down and burned or left to decay, their stored carbon is released.
Large-scale clearing can populations, which may reduce overall genetic variation.
Large-scale clearing can fragment populations, which may reduce overall genetic variation.
True or False?
The Amazon Rainforest still acts as a carbon sink in every area.
False.
Deforestation has turned some areas of the Amazon from carbon sinks into carbon sources.
How does clearcutting affect wildlife populations?
Clearcutting destroys habitat, eliminating food and shelter for wildlife and leading to population declines.
Why does deforestation raise local temperatures?
Fewer trees means less transpiration, so the natural evaporative cooling of the surrounding air is lost.
Why does clearcutting increase the risk of flash floods?
Without trees to absorb water, excess rainwater runs off quickly, leading to flash floods.
Deforestation reduces cloud formation, so more reaches the ground and temperatures rise further.
Deforestation reduces cloud formation, so more solar radiation reaches the ground and temperatures rise further.
How does deforestation disrupt the water cycle?
With less transpiration there is less moisture in the air, leading to reduced precipitation and prolonged droughts.
How does deforestation make regions more vulnerable to heatwaves?
Deforestation reduces the Earth's ability to moderate temperature fluctuations, making regions more vulnerable to heatwaves and extreme weather events.
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