The statement that is true about forest fires and the atmosphere is:
Forest fires add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
During a forest fire, the combustion of trees and other vegetation releases carbon dioxide as a byproduct. This can contribute to climate change as carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. While forest fires may produce other gases and particles that can affect the atmosphere and weather, the direct addition of carbon dioxide is a key aspect of their environmental impact.
The other statements are generally not accurate:
- Forest fires do not add oxygen; in fact, they consume oxygen during combustion.
- While forest fires can release particles that may influence weather patterns, the statement is more general and doesn't summarize the effects accurately compared to the direct impact of carbon dioxide emissions.
- Forest fires do reduce the number of trees, which decreases the overall capacity of the ecosystem to remove carbon dioxide over time.