Deforestation Breakout

Deforestation

BREAKOUT

START

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

Introduction

MISSION

CHARACTERS

CHOOSE YOUR DESTINATION

Destination 01

Destination 03

Destination 04

Destination 02

WELCOME to Destination 01

Find the clue you need to keep moving forward

How Deforestation Affects the Climate

The Sun's energy heats the Earth's surface unevenly, creating temperature and pressure differences that drive convection in the atmosphere and oceans. This convection generates winds as warm air rises and cool air sinks, creating movement in the air. Additionally, the Sun's energy is absorbed by the oceans, forming ocean currents that distribute heat throughout Earth. These ocean currents, along with atmospheric pressure patterns influenced by things like deflection off of continents and the Coriolis effect, ultimately contribute to wind patterns across the planet.

Deforestation occurs to make space for many human activities. It is the cause of around 10% of global warming. This is due to the fact that trees release oxygen into the environment, take in carbon dioxide, and store carbon. Thus, when trees are cut down, less carbon dioxide is absorbed, and more of it is released into the atmosphere. This leads to an over-abundance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, contributing to the and climate change. Deforestation also impacts weather, as it disrupts the water cycle. Trees absorb water from the soil and release it into the environment through transpiration. This can lead to decreased rainfall and higher temperatures.

greenhouse effect

Next

How Deforestation Affects the Climate

In the Amazon Rainforest alone, the soil moisture levels have been rapidly decreasing. Since it is already situated near the equator, this forest already experiences a naturally warm and humid climate. However, deforestation has only been making the Amazon warmer than it already is and drier, leading to devastating effects on its inhabitants.

Quiz

QUESTION 1/3

It unevenly heats the surface of the Earth.

How does the sun impact the climate of different areas across the planet?

It is closer to some areas than others.

It doesn't. The sun is useless.

QUESTION 2/3

Less trees absorb animal waste, stinking up the air

How does deforestation negatively affect the environment?

It contributes to climate change by releasing more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

The sun helps less trees grow, so it can now focus on heating up the environment more

QUESTION 3/3

The greenhouse effect is when gasses in the atmosphere (like carbon dioxide) trap heat

What is the greenhouse effect?

Plants grow a lot because they're stored in a greenhouse

There is less carbon dioxide in the environment

CONGRATULATIONS

The first number is:

Back to map

WELCOME TO Destination 02

Drag and discover

How Deforestation Impacts Abiotic/Biotic Factors

Abiotic

Biotic

• Temperature

• Shelter Loss

• Loss of Biodiversity

• Water

• Disruption of food chains/food webs

• Soil

Click on each item to learn more.

Next

How Deforestation causes Organisms to Adapt

Animals

Plants

• Behavioral

• Smaller leaves, thicker cuticles

• Physiological

• Denser & longer roots

• Structural

• Hairy/waxy leaves

• Symbiotic relationships with soil microbes

Hover over each item to learn more.

Next

Which of the following is NOT a biotic factor?

Trees because they are dying

Grass

Soil

Why do organisms in an ecosystem compete with one another?

They're not smart enough for peace

To obtain them for themselves when resources are limited

They got serious beef from when the monkey loaned the elephant $5 that he didn’t pay back

True or False: Deforestation is beneficial to the environment because it allows animals to find new areas, increasing biodiversity.

False

True

CONGRATULATIONS

The second number is:

Back to map

WELCOME TO Destination 03

Explore the house

The basement was unlocked, but only has a piano. Try exploring.

WELCOME TO Destination 03: A secret desk?

Find a key to continue

Remember that locked room you found earlier? Turns out, there's information all over the walls.

Short-term and Long-term effects of Deforestation

Long-term

Short-term

• Wildfires

• Climate Change

• Droughts

• Soil degradation

• Soil Erosion

• Decline in water quality

• Habitat Fragmentation

• A disturbance of indigenous people and their health

• Loss of biodiversity

Next

Hover over each item to learn more.

01

Which of the following is NOT a short-term effect of deforestation?

Wildfires

Soil Erosion

Climate Change

Droughts

02

What is habitat fragmentation?

When nature chooses to play hide-and-seek with all of the organisms

When half of a habitat is eaten

When the forest soil turns into chocolate

breaking up large, continuous forest areas into smaller, isolated fragments

03

Why does deforestation lead to a loss of biodiversity?

All of the animals get bored and go on vacation, but forget to take the plants with them

It doesn't; deforestation is good!

it leads to sudden loss of numerous resources (food, water, shelter), quickly leading to a loss of biodiversity.

None of the above

CONGRATULATIONS

The third number is:

Back to map

Destination 4:

Remember the code

216

Continue

How has deforestation specifically affected the Amazon Rainforest?

• The Amazon is the world's largest rainforest, but deforestation has deforested or degraded around 35% of it already.

• It is often referred to as the "lungs of the earth", as it produces nearly 9% of the total oxygen on Earth. With the amount of deforestation it is experiencing, it is likely that this number will decrease.

• Currently, over 10,000 species of plants and animals in the rainforest are at risk of extinction solely due to deforestation.

• Deforestation is making the Amazon significantly warmer and drier.

• Around 26.4 million acres of the Amazon Rainforest was burned in 2023 from wildfires occurring due to deforestation.

Continue

What is the Amazon Rainforest often referred to as?

A forest mostly in Brazil

Mother Nature's child

The lungs of the earth

What natural disaster, coming from deforestation, has the greatest effect on the Amazon Rainforest?

Landslides

Flooding

Wildfires

How many species of organisms are at risk of extinction due to deforestation in the Amazon rainforest?

Over 10,000 species

Around 5,000 species

Over 20,000 species

CONGRATULATIONS

The fourth number is:

Back to map

TRY AGAIN?

This adventure is not over yet. What is the secret code?

Enter

Cunning and dangerous, she's always onestep ahead. Don't underestimateher cleverness.

Fearless archaeologist, always ready for an adventure. Her whip and hat are as iconic asher bravery.

A pilot with a heart of gold and a compass that always pointsto adventure.

Historian and mentor, always has an interesting fact that couldsave the day.

CaptainRivera

Morgana the Treasure Hunter

TeacherArchibald

IndianaJane

Habitat Loss

• Over 2,000 different species in the Amazon Rainforest alone rely on trees for shelter.
• Because of deforestation, so many of these trees are cut down, causing these animals to have to relocate.
• This will lead to increased competition among tree-dwelling animals for shelter, as there will be limited spaces available due to deforestation.

Guiding Question: Describe the impact of humans on weather, climate, and how organisms must adapt to their environment.

Loss of Biodiversity

• Firstly, deforestation endangers many different tree species already. Because of this, animals that rely on those trees for shelter and food will then start to lower in quantity as well.
• Over 2,000 species of animals rely on trees.
• This will also make the ecosystem less sustainable.

Disruption of Food Chains/Webs

• The eradication of trees will lead to a decrease in organisms that rely on trees.
• This will eventually impact the predators of those organisms as well and thereby disrupt the many food chains/webs present in the affected forest.
• Additionally, with fewer primary consumers, the predators of those organisms will have increased competition for food.

Soil

• With fewer trees to hold the soil together, there will be more soil erosion in forests because of deforestation.
• This will lead to less soil fertility, making it less suitable for plants.

Congratulations, you found a key!

It's wrong to go through another's possessions, but you did it anyway. But what does this key lead to?

CONTINUE?

Water

• Due to less trees being there to perform transpiration, there will be less rainfall. This will lead to less water available to animals and plants and competition among organisms for access to water.
• In addition, soil erosion from a lack of trees will lead to more runoff, polluting the water.

In ancient times, the Tlingit tribe thrived in the Amazon forest, safeguarding its lush plant life. Fearing that forests would be endangered as civilization advanced, they devised a master plan to protect their sacred land. Today, this rainforest is one of the places most affected by deforestation, and the Tlingits' plan (guarded by a four-digit code) holds the key to its preservation. Your mission: uncover clues across the state to unlock the secret code and reveal the founders' strategy. Good luck on your quest!

You picked the right box, but there's something inside it. Try opening it?

OPEN?

Temperature

• Transpiration is a process carried out by plants in the water cycle. It releases water vapor into the atmosphere, cooling temperatures.
• With less trees available to do this, it may be possible to see higher temperatures than usual. The Amazon Rainforest is already a very warm area, but it may become even warmer consequently.

You found a scroll wedged in one of the circuit boxes!

Look inside the scroll and find something to help you complete your first quest. Congratulations!

OPEN SCROLL

Deforestation impacts weather patterns through reduced transpiration from trees, contributes to climate change due to less carbon dioxide being absorbed, and causes organisms to have to adapt to their environment by having higher tolerances for arid weather, adjusting diets, or finding a new habitat. The Amazon Rainforest is one of the most affected places. Because of all of the dire changes deforestation brings, it is important that we find a way to put a stop to it. Are you up for the challenge?

After moving the advertisement, you found what seems to be a secret passageway into a building. Perhaps it has a clue?

ENTER?

You found something!

You got bored because you weren't able to find anything and started messing around with the piano keys. To your luck, you found a secret compartment, unfolding a...

CONTINUE?