The effects of deforestation and climate variability on the
Araguaia River, Brazil
The tropical rainforest has been a poster topic for decades on
conservation. In Brazil where the Araguaia River travels there have been high
rates of deforestation and destruction of the savannah and tropical rainforest.
This article describes how the rates of change in these areas have lead to
increased sedimentary flux. The studied discussed took precipitation means and
discharge means from 1970 and 1990 (in order to compare the climate change over
time of the areas).
As shown in table 2 and 3, the mean discharge rate increased
by twenty-five percent, the precipitation rate by two point five percent, and a
run-off increase of twenty-two percent.
In conclusion the study discovered that the hydromorphic
changes that complemented deforestation and conversion of land to agriculture,
resulted in the mobilization of sediments from the land surface, decreased
evapotranspiration, increased water yield, surface runoff, and increased river discharge.
This in conclusion is the result of the high demand for Brazilian beef and for
agriculture that is farmed in these areas and because of the observed shift of
the native mixed forests and grasslands to pasture croplands.
M.
T. Coe (3 February 2011). The effects of deforestation and climate variability
on the streamflow of the Araguaia River, Brazil . Biogeochemistry. 105
1-3, 119-131.
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