Which of the following changes to the local hydrologic cycle will result if large areas of land experienced clear-cutting?

Transpiration of water from vegetation will increase.

Evaporation of water from the soil will increase.

Runoff from watersheds will decrease.

Siltation of local streams will decrease.

Option (2)

Explanation:

The cutting down of trees is commonly known as the deforestation process, and directly affects the water cycle process occurring in that localized region. This also results in the increasing rate of soil erosion, loss of fertility of the soil, and flooding.

Due to the absence of trees, there will not be any transpiration process where the excess water is released into the atmosphere from the plant body.

There will be a high rate of surface run-off as the water holding capacity decreases in the region due to the absence of trees.

The siltation of local streams will eventually increase as it will mix up with the sediments of that dry land areas.

The rate of evaporation of water from the soil will thereby increase due to the absence of vegetation and lesser water holding capacity. So, the water present in the soil will be transferred into the atmosphere in the form of water vapor, by the process of evaporation.

Thus, the correct answer is option (2).