Question

(a) What are forms of oxygen found in the atmosphere?
(b) "Forests influence the quality of our air, soil and water resources." Justify the statement.

Answer 1

(a) There are two forms of oxygen found in the atmosphere -

Elemental oxygen - It is usually found in diatomic state i.e. O₂ in the lower part of atmosphere.
Ozone - Another form of oxygen is ozone, which exists in triatomic state i.e. O₃ and is found in the stratosphere layer of atmosphere.

(b) Forests play an important role in various ways -

• They maintain the carbon dioxide and oxygen balance. They use carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the atmosphere.
• They play an important role in replenishing the water resources by maintaining the water cycle.
• They prevent soil erosion by strongly holding onto the soil through their roots and preventing it from eroding.
• They also check the speed of winds and running water.