3.1.1.6 Case studies

Question 1

How much rainfall is in the Amazon yearly

Answer 1

Over 2000mm

Question 2

Average temperature of the Amazon

Answer 2

27 degrees

Question 3

What percentage of the world oxygen does the Amazon emit

Answer 3

30%

Question 4

How much carbon does the Amazon store

Answer 4

1/5 of carbon present in biomass

Question 5

What happened in 2015 in the Amazon

Answer 5

Fossil fuel emissions overtook the carbon being sequestered

Question 6

What percentage of fresh water entering the oceans comes from the Amazon

Answer 6

15%

Question 7

How much of the precipitation reaches the ground and why is this significant

Answer 7

Up to half does not reach the ground
This means there is little soil erosion

Question 8

How much of the Amazon is deforested yearly

Answer 8

20,000km squared

Question 9

What percentage of Brazil’s emissions is from deforestation

Answer 9

75%
Placing them as the 4th most polluting nation

Question 10

What are the negatives of the slash and burn technique (4)

Answer 10

• causes sudden evaporation of water from the canopy
• increases albedo and temperature
• turns the forest from a sink to a source
• reduces porosity of soil leading to increased erosion

Question 11

Describe the increase in Amazonian temperatures

Answer 11

• A mean temperature increase of 0.25 degrees
• A 4 degree rise would kill 85% of Amazon

Question 12

What are the differences between the rainforest and pasture land (3)

Answer 12

• forests absorb 10% more solar radiation
• higher temperatures in pastures
• soils contain up to 8kg less carbon in the upper 50cm in pastures

Question 13

Describe the damaging effects of soil erosion

Answer 13

• up to 9kg of carbon is stored in the upper 50cm which is transferred into the river
• this pollutes the river and can harm wildlife
• this carbon will also be evaporated

Question 14

Mitigation strategies in the Amazon

Answer 14

• Pará rainforest reserve (15 million hectares of national park)
• selective logging
• Amazon cooperation treaty organisation (ACTO)

Question 15

What is ACTO

Answer 15

Established in 1978 and contains all Amazonian countries to promote sustainable development

Question 16

What does ACTO do

Answer 16

• advocates against deforestation and illegal mining
• monitors ecosystems to locate conservation projects
• created the ‘Amazon fund’

Question 17

What has the Amazon fund done?

Answer 17

• provided education and training to the indigenous people of the Xingu river basin
• supported sustainable business such as eco tourism and sustainable timber harvesting in this area

Question 18

How long is the river Exe

Answer 18

80km

Question 19

How big is the drainage basin for the river Exe

Answer 19

600,000km squared

Question 20

What is the geology of the river Exe

Answer 20

80% underlain by impermeable Devonian sandstone

Question 21

Where is the source and mouth of the Exe

Answer 21

• source = Exmoor hills
• mouth = Exmouth

Question 22

Why does runoff account for 65% of the water balance in river Exe

Answer 22

• Devonian sandstone reduces percolation
• drainage ditches on Exmoor

Question 23

What is the land use around the river Exe

Answer 23

70% agricultural grassland

Question 24

Describe the Wimbleball reservoir

Answer 24

• built in 1979
• supplies water to Exeter
• regulates water flow
• prevents floods

Question 25

Aims of the Exmoor Mires project

Answer 25

Restore 2000ha of peatland by blocking drainage ditches

Question 26

Benefits of the Exmoor Mires project (4)

Answer 26

• more water storage and attenuation
• improved water quality (slower throughflow means less sediment is carried to river)
• more carbon storage
• increased biodiversity