Photo AI
Analyse the data shown in Figure 1 - AQA - A-Level Geography - Question 1 - 2021 - Paper 1
Question 1
Analyse the data shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 shows the impact of different rates of deforestation and afforestation upon land surface temperature (LST) at different... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Analyse the data shown in Figure 1 - AQA - A-Level Geography - Question 1 - 2021 - Paper 1
Step 1
Relationship between Forest Cover and Land Surface Temperature
Answer
The data indicates that deforestation generally leads to an increase in land surface temperature (LST). Specifically, areas with high rates of deforestation (up to 90%) demonstrate a marked increase in temperature, particularly at lower latitudes such as 25°S. For instance, temperature rises can be observed, with an increase up to 1.7°C in certain instances.
Conversely, afforestation tends to correlate with a decrease in LST. For example, at similar latitudes, afforestation rates between 10% to 30% result in smaller temperature decreases that reach up to 1.7°C, particularly noticeable in regions around the equator.
Step 2
Temperature Variation by Latitude
Answer
The impact of both deforestation and afforestation appears to vary with latitude. The extremes are most pronounced between 25°S and 15°S, where land cover changes significantly influence temperature. For latitudes higher than 60°, the data appears less predictable, reflecting that temperature changes are less dramatic. At higher latitudes, small adjustments in forest cover (e.g., 10-30% change) do not equate to the same level of temperature impact experienced at lower latitudes.
Step 3
Overall Insights
Answer
In summary, the analysis of the data in Figure 1 suggests a clear relationship between forest cover changes and land surface temperature. The movements toward afforestation contribute to cooling effects in lower latitudes, while deforestation results in notable warming in the same areas. This highlights the importance of forest management as a tool for climate regulation.