Amazon rain forest Flashcards
How big is the amazon rainforest
6 million km^2
what percentage of the amazon rainforest is in Brazil
70
What is the weather like in the rainforest
25-30 degrees Celsius annual temps
Small seasonal variation in temperature
High average annual rainfall > 2000mm with no dry season
March wettest month 310 mm of rainfall
How much of precipitation is recycled
Between 50 and 60 percent of the precipitation in Amazonia is recycled by evapotranspiration
How would you describe the precipitation
High intensity convectional rainfall
What percentage of evaporation is accounted for by interception
20-25 percent of all evaporation
What percentage of rainfall is intercepted
10
characteristics of Evapotranspiration in the amazon rain forest
High rates of evapotranspiration due to high temperatures, abundant moisture and dense vegetation
Characteristics of Run-off Amazon rainforest
Rapid run-off related to high rainfall intensive rain-fall events and well drained soils river discharge may peak in 1 or 2 months of the year
Characteristics of atmosphere Amazon rainforest
High temperature allows atmosphere to store large amounts of water
characteristics of soil/groundwater Amazon
Abundant rainfall and deep tropical soils lead to significant water storage in aquifiers and soils
characteristics of vegetation Amazon
Rainforest trees play a crucial role in the water cycle absorbing and storing water from the soil and releasing it through transpiration
What is the net primary productivity of the Amazon
2500 grams/m^2/year
15-25 percent of NPP of the world
What is the biomass of the rainforest
400-700 tonnes per hectare
How much carbon does large forest trees store
180 tonnes of carbon per hectare above ground and 40 tonnes per hectare under ground in the roots
How much carbon does the soil store
90-200 tonnes/ hectare
How much carbon does the rainforest store per year
2.4 billion tonnes
Why is there speed decomposition
High heat levels average annual temperature of 25-30 degrees Celsius
How does geology affect the water cycle in the amazon
Impermeable Catchments from impermeable crystalline rocks results in rapid run off
How does relief affect the water cycle
Most of the Amazon comprises of lowlands that mainly comprises of through flow and overland flow
In the west the Andes creates create steep catchments for rapid run-off
How does temperature affect the water cycle in the Amazon
High temperatures = high levels of evapotranspiration. Convection is strong leading to intense storms and precipitation
How much carbon is locked up in the amazon
100 billion tonnes
60 percent overground
How much carbon is released through decomposition
1.7 billion tonnes
Human factors affecting Water cycle in Amazon
deforestation = 17500km^2 between 1970 and 2013
1/5 of rainforest has been destroyed
What happened in April 2014 in the Amazon
Madeira river rose by 19.68 metres at port Velho (West Brazil)
60 people died
68000 families evacuated
What is the absorption rate for former rainforests and soya cultivation fields
16.8 tonnes/hectare for former fields
2.7 tonnes/hectare for soya cultivation
What are some strategies used to manage tropical rainforests
Brazil commited to restoring 120000 km^2 of rainforest by 2030
protection through legislation
projects to reforest areas
improved agricultural techniques like shifting cultivation
What percentage of the Amazon in now national parks or otherwise protected areas
44 percent
What is the parica project
It is a plan to create a 1000 km ^2 commercial timber plantation plant 20 million fast-growing hardwood seedlings on 4000 smallholdings to mature over 25 years
What is the UNS REDD scheme
Provides payment tribes if they stop logging which can be bought by TNCs to “offset” their carbon impact. In 2013 TNC Natura purchased 120000 credits of the surui tribe
