Amazon rainforest

Question 1

How many trees are there in the Amazon

Answer 1

300 billion

Question 2

How much carbon does the amazon store

Answer 2

90-140 billion tonnes

Question 3

What is the average rainfall

Answer 3

2300 mm/year

Question 4

What does forest removal by “Slash and Burn” cause?

Answer 4

Decrease porosity of soil, sudden evaporation, increased albedo

Question 5

How much water is kept within the water cycle (closed system loop

Answer 5

70% (30 % is lost to sea)

Question 6

If current deforestation rates continue what will the tree

cover be like?

Answer 6

27% of the amazon will be left without trees by 2030

Question 7

The Balbina HEP flooded how much of the amazon?

Answer 7

2300 km squared

Question 8

`What is the greatest influence on deforestation?

Answer 8

70% of deforestation occurs due to commercial farming

Question 9

What is the projected temperature increase in the Amazon by 2050?

Answer 9

2-3 degrees

Question 10

How many hectares have been lost in the Amazonian forests, between 2000-2010

Answer 10

3.6 million hectares

Question 11

A 3 degrees temperature rise would see what percentage of the Amazon forest die?

Answer 11

75%

Question 12

What percentage of carbon is lost when soil is burned

Answer 12

30-60% carbon lost, vegetation decays, fungi and bacteria used to recycle dead stuff dies off

This means vegetation is less likely to grow within sufficient nutrients in the soil

Question 13

What are the effects of a warming water temperature?

Answer 13

Temperature dependent species die, changing river biodiversity, reduction in oxygen concentrations in water

Question 14

What percentage of all the carbon in the earths biomass does the Amazon contain ?

Answer 14

20%

Question 15

How many km2 does the Amazon rainforest cover?

Answer 15

5.5 million km2

Question 16

~What is the amazon losing

Answer 16

its net capacity to to absorb C02

Question 17

What is the effect of an increase in atmospheric CO2, and subsequently a growth stimulation in trees?

Answer 17

Trees live faster, die younger

Question 18

examples of how the amazon rainforest has been managed

Answer 18

1. Selective logging and replanting
2. education
3. eco tourism
4. international agreements

Question 19

why is selective logging and replanting sustainable

Answer 19

Selective logging of mature trees ensures that the rainforest canopy is preserved. This method allows the forest to recover because the younger trees gain more space and sunlight to grow. Planned and controlled logging ensures that for every tree logged another is planted.

Question 20

Give an example of a international agreement in helping preserve the rainforest

Answer 20

debt-for-nature swaps. This is when a country which is owed money by another country cancels part of the debt if an agreement is made by the debtor country to ensure the conservation of its tropical rainforests.

EG in 2010 The United States and Brazil have signed an agreement converting $21m (£13.5m) of Brazilian debt into a fund to protect tropical ecosystems

Question 21

Example of eco tourism in the amazon

Answer 21

An example of an ecotourism project is the Yachana Lodge in Equador. It is located in a remote area of the Amazon Rainforest where local people rely on subsistence farming.

Question 22

What a benefit of eco tourism projects

Answer 22

1. The project employs local people providing a reliable source of income and a better quality of life.
2. The project encourages local people to use the rainforest in a sustainable way so tourists continue to visit.

Question 23

Dynamic equilibrium

Answer 23

Dynamic equilibrium refers to the tendency towards a natural state of balance

Question 24

why is global warming caused by human activity harmful on the water cycle
2 chains (positive feedback)

Answer 24

1. causing permafrost to melt decreasing the stores of water
2. . causing further rise in temperature as carbon is released
3. melting icebergs
4. reduced albedo
5. more warming of the seas

Question 25

Human impacts on the water cycle in the rainforest

positive feedback loop

Answer 25

1. deforestation may cause flooding as a result of increased surface run off and decreasing lag time

the soils nutrients may be washed out preventing further growth of plants

2. areas downwind of a deforested area receive half of rainfall (causing further consequences)
   causing more plants to die and less transpiration occurs

causing further lack of rainfall

Question 26

Human impacts on the carbon cycle in the rainforest

Answer 26

1. deforestation results in a mass release in the stores of carbon and a reduction in photosynthesis (creating less carbon consumption in the future)

Question 27

why is global warming caused by human activity harmful on the biosphere
4 links (negative impact)

Answer 27

1. increased drought
2. more wildfires
3. more CO2
4. increased temperature

Question 28

why does the government not need to worry about the impacts of global warming caused by human activity on the biosphere

Answer 28

1. Increased carbon and temperatures
2. more photosynthesis
3. stimulated growth of plants
4. reducing C02 in the atmosphere
5. cooling effect

Question 29

why does the government need to worry about the impacts of global warming caused by human activity on the biosphere

Answer 29

1. despite increased growth in plants they often live shorter lives.
   Therefore they may have long term damages as decomposer’s release a lot of C02 when decomposing dead material
2. If carbon emissions result in an increase of temperatures by 3 degrees c it could kill 75% of the rainforest
3. The carbon emissions in Latin America now surpass the sequestration of carbon in the rainforest.

Question 30

What is the main reason of deforestation in the rainforest

Answer 30

cattle ranching occupies 70% of the deforestation

Question 31

how many more kg of carbon do rain forests absorb compared to glass land per year

Answer 31

1.5kgC/M^2

Question 32

how successful have Brazil been in reducing deforestation

Answer 32

they have slowed deforestation by 75% since the 2000s

Question 33

how have Brazil reduced deforestation

3

Answer 33

1. banning exporters of soybean and beef from buying from producers where deforestation has happened illegally
2. Half of the forest is legally protected
3. Norway have implemented a ‘pay for performance scheme’. Giving Brazil money for evidence of a reduction in carbon emissions. They have given Brazil $670 million.

Question 34

Evaluation of the deforestation measures implemented by Brazil

Answer 34

However in recent times president Bolsonaro was recently elected in 2018 and has encouraged the exploitation of the rainforest

Question 35

explain the process of decomposition

Answer 35

1. decomposition is the breakdown of organic matter
2. this is usually done by decomposers such as fungi
3. when this process occurs carbon is released
4. warmer temperatures typically lead to higher decomposition as there is increased microbial activity.

Question 36

how do stores of carbon exist in different spheres

Answer 36

atmosphere: as carbon dioxide and carbon compounds, such as methane
hydrosphere: dissolved carbon dioxide

lithosphere: as carbonate in limestones, chalk and fossil
fuels, as pure carbon in graphite and diamonds

biosphere: as carbon atoms in living and dead organisms

Question 37

What is the carbon budget

Answer 37

this would include how much carbon is emitted by various processes (such as combusting fossil fuels) compared to what can be absorbed by nature or captured by people.