Broken Pumps
Broken pumps describes how deforestation disrupts the carbon cycle by eliminating trees that act as natural carbon pumps, drastically reducing photosynthesis rates and allowing more CO2 to accumulate in the atmosphere. In Amplify Science (California) Grade 7, Chapter 4: Science Seminar (Case Study: Deforestation), students analyze how forest removal affects the carbon cycle and atmospheric composition.
Key Concepts
This reduction means fewer carbon atoms are being pulled from the atmosphere and fixed into biological matter. The natural mechanism for lowering atmospheric CO₂ is effectively disabled.
Common Questions
How does deforestation affect the carbon cycle?
Deforestation removes trees that absorb CO2 through photosynthesis. With fewer trees, less carbon is fixed from the atmosphere into organic matter, and atmospheric CO2 levels rise.
Why are forests called carbon pumps?
Forests act as carbon pumps because trees continuously pull CO2 from the atmosphere and store it as organic carbon in their wood, leaves, and roots through photosynthesis.
What happens to atmospheric CO2 when forests are destroyed?
When forests are destroyed, the rate of photosynthesis decreases dramatically. Less CO2 is absorbed from the atmosphere, and if the trees are burned, additional stored carbon is released, further raising CO2 levels.
Where is the deforestation case study in Amplify Science Grade 7?
The deforestation case study (Broken Pumps) is covered in Amplify Science (California) Grade 7, Chapter 4: Science Seminar (Case Study: Deforestation).