Global Warming and Deforestation - Essay Example

The effects of deforestation as stressed by Humphreys (1996) range from the global to the local level. One of the most essential implications of deforestation is its impact on the dilapidation of the atmosphere (Humphreys, 1996). Deforestation plays a crucial role in global warming, which transpires from elevated concentrations of greenhouse gases resulting in net escalations in the global mean temperature (Humphreys, 1996).

Radiative forcing is the atmospheric process by which greenhouse gases amplify temperature increases according to Humphreys (1996). To gain insight into how deforestation partakes a role in global warming, it is beneficial to explore how this process works. Greenhouse gases are composed mainly of four gases namely, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons (Humphreys, 1996). The effects of global warming are deemed to be hazardous to the planet Earth. It was predicted that intense global warming will cause alterations in global trends of agricultural productivity, augment the melting of the Arctic and Antarctic ice caps, thermal spreading out of the oceans, and a net proliferation in sea levels which would endanger coastlines worldwide (Humphreys, 1996).

Humphreys highlighted that not only does deforestation play a part in global warming but as a result, global warming would remarkably be perilous to nature, the warming of the oceans will be a menace to marine life, while climatic zones are supposed to move towards the poles, thus, will be detrimental to weak ecosystems (1996). A variety of research studies have been conducted to determine the link between global warming and deforestation. One of the major research reports that were conceptualized was the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment or SCOPE 29, which tackled mainly the impact of global warming and the contribution of deforestation to elevated levels of carbon dioxide (Humphreys, 1996).

As highlighted in the SCOPE 29 report, emissions resulting from human activities are boosting atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, which in turn will enhance the natural greenhouse effect, resulting in further warming of the Earth’s surface (Humphreys, 1996). It is also apparent that an area seemed to be warmer without the trees which were previously covering it for the reason that the trees that were once present there do no longer provide shelter and cover from the heat of the sun.

It is also known that trees are the ones producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide in the process of photosynthesis so when forests or any area are deprived of trees, the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can no longer be manufactured into oxygen for there are no trees or plants that will facilitate photosynthesis (Humphreys, 1996). Learning the link between global warming and deforestation is crucial for individuals so that people will be aware of the detrimental and perilous impact of their activities. Thus, they will be more cautious with their acts for if they are not, it would cause them to the planet they are living in, and before one knows it if hazardous activities continue, the Earth will cease to exist.