1.5

• How does deforestation contribute to water deficits in the hydrological system?

  Deforestation reduces vegetation cover, which lowers rainfall recycling and the rainforest’s ability to regenerate. This creates a positive feedback loop—less vegetation leads to less rainfall, leading to more drying and forest degradation. In the Amazon, this may have passed a tipping point, altering regional climates and moisture flows permanently.
• What were the causes and impacts of the 2014–15 drought in Brazil?

  Brazil’s worst drought in 80 years was caused by high-pressure systems diverting rain-bearing winds, leading to rainfall in Bolivia and Paraguay instead of Brazil. Impacts included water rationing, reduced hydroelectric power, dried-up reservoirs (some at 1% capacity), over-abstraction of groundwater, falling aquifer levels, and a poor Arabica coffee harvest that increased global prices by 50%.
• What are the three types of drought?

  Meteorological drought – reduced rainfall compared to normal.2) Agricultural drought – insufficient water for crops and irrigation.3) Hydrological drought – deficits in drainage basins like dry rivers and lakes.
• How does drought affect rainforest ecosystems like the Amazon?

  Drought stresses rainforest ecosystems, reducing CO₂ absorption and O₂ release. It increases tree mortality, disrupts the carbon cycle, and can trigger chain reactions like more wildfires, habitat loss, and biodiversity declines.
• How was the Pantanal wetland ecosystem affected by the 2014–15 drought?

  The Pantanal, a crucial wetland habitat, experienced higher tree death rates and loss of animal habitats. Ranchers burned ungrazed land, but fires spread uncontrollably into wetlands and forests, worsening environmental damage.
• How did human activity worsen the 2014–15 drought in Brazil?

  Human responses like illegal groundwater drilling (70% of wells were unlicensed) led to contamination and overuse of aquifers. High licensing costs pushed people toward unregulated wells, compounding water scarcity and pollution.