Question

How will deforestation most likely affect the amount of groundwater in this ecosystem?

A. Deforestation will decrease the amount of groundwater because more groundwater will be exposed to evaporation
B. Deforestation will decrease the amount of groundwater because more surface water will run off of the deforested area.
C Deforestation will increase the amount of groundwater because less surface water will evaporate from the deforested area
D Deforestation will increase the amount of groundwater because less groundwater will be absorbed by organisms that live in trees

Answer 1

The correct answer is Option A. Deforestation will decrease the amount of groundwater because more surface water will run off of the deforested area.

Step-by-step explanation:

Deforestation will decrease the amount of groundwater because more surface water will run off of the deforested area. Forests act as a natural sponge, absorbing rainfall and allowing it to slowly infiltrate into the groundwater system. When forests are removed, there is less vegetation to capture rainwater, leading to increased surface runoff and decreased groundwater recharge.