Amazon Flashcards
Annual rainfall in the Amazon ?
2,300 mm
How many trees are there ?
300 billion
How many countries does it spread across ?
9
What percentage of species on earth does the Amazon hold ?
20 %
7 changes to the water and carbon cycle ?
Deforestation, Logging, Road building, Mineral extraction, Energy development, Settlement and population growth
Amazons contribution to climate change ?
Turn into a source of carbon, 30% of CO2 emissions come from burning rainforests, Can store 40% less carbon than untouched carbon.
Soil impacts on changes to water and carbon cycle ?
Trees block sunlight so soil will dry out, When it rains soil erosion will wash away much of the carbon away into rivers, Burning forests loses 30-60% of the carbon stored in soils.
Rivers impacts on changes to water and carbon cycle ?
Trees help continue water cycle by returning water vapour to atmosphere, Flash floods more common - less vegetation, More soil and silt washed into rivers
Atmosphere impacts on changes to water and carbon cycle ?
Reduced rainfall, enhanced greenhouse effect, Atmospheric circulation (movement of air that distributes heat and moisture) , Decrease water demand, Deforestation is delaying the start of the rainy season
Vegetation impacts on changes to water and carbon cycle ?
Increase temp will impact temp-dependant species, Less rainfall during dry months will affect growth
What is the agreement called to mitigate climate change ?
Amazon cooperation treaty organisation
What are other things to help mitigate climate change ?
Creating national parks, Reforestation, Forest biofuel could compete with ethanol production by 2030.
Average discharge of water to the Atlantic ocean ?
175,000 m3/s
Nature impacts on changes to water and carbon cycle ?
Reduced rainfall and higher temps may reduce suitable habitats during dry warm months, Reduced rainfall is a change in nutrient input into streams and rivers which affects aquatic wildlife,
How much global terrestrial vegetation carbon does the Amazon store ?
17%
What does the untouched Amazon do ?
Take in more CO2 than give out - helps reduce global warming by lowering the planets greenhouse gas levels.
How much carbon do dead Amazonian trees emit and how much does the Amazon absorb annually ?
Releases 1.9 billion tonnes of carbon
Absorbs 2.2 billion tonnes of carbon
This means untouched Amazon acts as a SINK of carbon.
What is the largest tributary in the Amazon and how big is it ?
Rio Negro - 14km wide.
What is thought to happen to half of the precipitation that enters the Amazon
It is thought that half of it never reaches the ground as it is intercepted by the forest and evaporated into the atmosphere.
How much moisture remains in the Amazons water cycle and why is this ?
50 - 80 % - as the moisture contributes to the formation of clouds which gets released back into the rainforest.
What are the causes of deforestation to moisture in the Amazon
When forests are cut down, less moisture goes into the air so rainfall declines which can lead to droughts.
How many trees are there aimed to be reforested by 2026 from the World Bank and the Brazilian Biodiversity Fund ?
73 million
