Deforestation impacts water cycles primarily by:

Deforestation has significant effects on water cycles, and one of the primary impacts is its role in decreasing local rainfall and increasing surface runoff. When forests are removed, the natural processes that regulate the water cycle are disrupted. Trees play a crucial role in transpiration, where they release water vapor into the atmosphere. This process contributes to cloud formation and precipitation. Without trees, there is less moisture being released into the air, which can lead to a decrease in local rainfall.

Additionally, the removal of trees results in less interception of rainfall, leading to more water running off the surface rather than being absorbed into the soil. This increases the volume and speed of runoff, which can cause soil erosion and negatively impact water quality in nearby rivers and streams due to the higher sediment load. In summary, the consequences of deforestation include a reduction in local precipitation and an increase in runoff, fundamentally altering the hydrological balance of the area.