Here are comprehensive answers to your geography assignment questions:
1. What are the consequences of deforestation?
- Loss of Biodiversity: Deforestation leads to habitat destruction, endangering numerous species and disrupting ecosystems.
- Climate Change: Trees absorb carbon dioxide; their removal contributes to increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
- Soil Erosion: Removal of trees increases soil erosion due to the lack of root structures that hold soil in place, leading to decreased soil fertility.
- Disruption of Water Cycle: Trees play a crucial role in transpiration and maintaining local climates; deforestation can alter rainfall patterns.
- Impact on Indigenous Communities: Many indigenous populations rely on forests for their livelihoods, including food, medicine, and shelter.
- Economic Consequences: While deforestation may lead to short-term economic gain from logging or agriculture, it can harm long-term economic sustainability.
2. What is an optimum population size?
Optimum population size refers to the number of people that can be sustained in a given area without degrading the environment or depleting resources. It is the population level that maximizes overall well-being, ensuring that resources such as food, water, and energy are available for everyone, while maintaining ecological balance. It varies by region and is influenced by factors such as technology, agriculture, and consumption patterns.
3. Identify the causes of global warming.
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Primarily from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) for energy and transportation, leading to increased levels of carbon dioxide (CO2).
- Deforestation: Trees that absorb CO2 are cut down, reducing the Earth's capacity to mitigate emissions.
- Agricultural Practices: Methane emissions from livestock and rice fields, along with nitrous oxide from fertilized soils, contribute to global warming.
- Industrial Processes: Various industries release greenhouse gases through chemical processes.
- Waste Management: Decomposing waste in landfills produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
4. List possible soil conservation measures for Ethiopia.
- Terracing: Constructing terraces on slopes to reduce erosion and manage water runoff.
- Agroforestry: Integrating trees and shrubs into agricultural systems to enhance soil structure and prevent erosion.
- Crop Rotation and Cover Cropping: Practicing crop rotation and planting cover crops to improve soil fertility and structure.
- No-till Farming: Reducing soil disturbance to maintain soil organic matter and prevent erosion.
- Building Check Dams: Creating small barriers in streams to slow water flow and enhance infiltration.
- Organic Fertilizers: Utilizing compost and organic matter to enhance soil quality and structure.
5. List the major consumptive uses of water in Ethiopia.
- Agriculture: The majority of water use in Ethiopia goes toward irrigation for crops, especially in a predominantly agrarian society.
- Domestic Use: Water is needed for drinking, cooking, sanitation, and other household purposes for the population.
- Livestock: Water is essential for livestock keeping, which is a significant part of the economy and livelihood in rural areas.
- Industrial Use: Limited but growing industrial activities require water for processes in sectors such as textiles, food processing, and mining.
These answers provide insight into critical environmental issues and management strategies relevant to Ethiopia and beyond.