Climate change is expected to have various effects on the water cycle, both globally and regionally. In
many areas, land use change is expected to exacerbate these impacts. Here we’ll discuss some of those
impacts.
Answer the below questions with ~1-2 sentences each (no penalty for longer answers, but there’s no need
to write an essay, either).
1.Watch the The Largest River On Earth Is In The Sky video about the amazon rainforest (or read the
transcript by clicking the “…” button and then “open transcript.”)
2.Tropical regions are expected to experience drought more often due to climate change. Drought also
increases the risk of forest fires (usually not a big problem in very wet forests). Think, then post your
answer: How might drought and fire affect the “river in the sky”?
3.In Modules 5+6 we learned that wildfires affect infiltration and runoff. With more frequent fires expected
around the world (especially in moderately dry climates), how would you expect water cycling to change
globally?Include parts of the water balance equation in your answer.
4.As temperature increases, plants generally need to transpire more water to keep cool (transpiration
cools leaves just like evaporation cools moist soil). How do you think this will affect the water cycle?
Again, include parts of the water balance equation in your answer.
5.As temperature increases, the intensity of rainfall events (in terms of volume or depth of water per unit
time) is expected to increase. While this might deliver more water to certain areas, do you think that water
will necessarily restore groundwater shortages or help plants grow? Why or why not?
6.Think back to weathering and fluvial processes in module 6. Do you think the increased intensity of
rainfall from climate change will affect weathering ? What about stream erosion? Why?
Sample Solution
