Correct Option
The correct option is (a).
Explanation
Deforestation significantly impacts the Earth's climate system by altering the carbon cycle and the hydrological (water) cycle. Trees act as carbon sinks and play a vital role in regulating local and global temperatures as well as precipitation patterns through transpiration.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: Plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere for photosynthesis. Deforestation reduces the number of trees available to sequester carbon, leading to an accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere. Since CO2 is a greenhouse gas that traps heat, its increase leads to a rise in the Earth's average temperature (Global Warming).
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: An increase in temperature does not stabilize the water cycle; rather, it disturbs it. Higher temperatures increase the rate of evaporation from soil and water bodies, leading to atmospheric instability and erratic weather patterns.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: A disturbed water cycle, resulting from the loss of transpiration from trees and increased evaporation, typically leads to reduced rainfall in the affected areas. This reduction in precipitation, combined with drier soils, increases the likelihood of droughts rather than preventing them.
Key Takeaway: Deforestation causes global warming by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide and induces droughts by disrupting the water cycle and reducing rainfall.