When a rain forest is destroyed, how does this affect the composition of the atmosphere?

Question

I would like sources for your answer please.

Answer 1

An important question. It is estimated that about half of the rainfall in the Amazon River basin is returned to the atmosphere by evaporation and transpiration from leaves. Destroying rain forest land therefore reduces evaporative cooling in the atmosphere which leads to a warming of possibly several degrees depending upon the area destroyed. This same area will refect more sunlight and contribute to desertification. It is my opinion that we are creating a terrible set of consequences that are not altogether known at this time but which contribute to our global climate in many different ways.

Answer 2

Actually, rainforests produce very little of the world's oxygen - that's mostly produced by young, growing forests like the pine forests of northern Europe. Rainforests are full of oxygen-consuming animals, fungi, bacteria and decaying trees, and generally tend to have a pretty much neutral contribution to the world's atmosphere.

This isn't an argument for cutting them all down to build condos and MacDonalds, of course. They are a vital world ecosystem, and support an incredible diversity of life. However, they are not the "lungs of the earth", either.

The link is to a highly controversial book that explores some related themes.

Answer 3

its basic science that flora utilize carbon dioxide to produce oxygen, therefore less trees there will be more co2 in the atmosphere. the forests also soak up heat making the surrounding area cooler, whereas the parking lots and condos they are being replaced with dont.

Answer 4

There are fewer flying monkeys flying from tree to tree, cutting down on simian air traffic.

Answer 5

we are screwed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_growth
Taking the natural 'scrubbers' out of this equation is not smart.
I like the monkeys and pretty birds in the trees.