Amazon Rainforest

Question 1

How much of the carbon stored in the planet’s biomass is in the Amazon rainforest?

Answer 1

20%

Question 2

How many different species are in the Amazon?

Answer 2

15,000

Question 3

How many countries does the Amazon reach into?

Answer 3

9

Question 4

What is the average rainfall in the Amazon?

Peak rainfall?

Answer 4

3,000mm per year

Max: 6,000mm per year

Question 5

What percentage of rainfall does not reach the ground?

What happens to it?

Answer 5

75%

Intercepted by the forest canopy, so re-evaporated into the atmosphere

Question 6

How does the rainfall reach the ground?

What happens once it reaches the ground?

Answer 6

Stem flow
Runoff to the rivers
Some infiltrates ground, taken up through roots- stored or leaves through transpiration
Some goes into groundwater

Question 7

The Amazon river equates to around ___ of the freshwater entering the oceans each day

Answer 7

15%

Question 8

How much of the Amazon has been lost to deforestation in the last 50 years?

Answer 8

17%

Question 9

What percentage of Brazil’s greenhouse gas emissions were a result of deforestation?

Answer 9

75%

Question 10

Natural Factors impacting Water and Carbon Cycles

Answer 10

Droughts
Disease
Temperature Change (glacial / interglacial)
Wildfires

Question 11

Drought impact on Water Cycle

Answer 11

Loss of biospheric water
Decreased evapotranspiration
Wildfires
Impermeable ground = decreased infiltration and increased runoff

Question 12

Drought impact on Carbon Cycle

Answer 12

Vegetation dries out and dies
Increased decomposition, more carbon in lithosphere
Wildfires

Question 13

Disease impact on Water Cycle

Answer 13

Areas with no vegetation- reduced interception and increased runoff
Less biospheric water
Reduced evapotranspiration, reduced cloud cover, increased drought risk

Question 14

Disease impact on Carbon Cycle

Answer 14

Loss of vegetation, reduced biospheric carbon
Organic material resulting will decompose- increases lithospheric store
Soil bare- washed into hydrosphere

Question 15

Why does disease travel quickly in the Amazon?

Answer 15

Trees in close proximity

Question 16

Temperature Change impact on Water Cycle

Answer 16

Decreased biospheric water if glacial

Ground freezes- impermeable, reduces infiltration and increases runoff

Question 17

Temperature Change impacts on Carbon Cycle

Answer 17

If glacial plant growth stops, and plants die, less biospheric carbon
Decreased photosynthesis, increased atmospheric CO2
Respiration will also decrease, causing atmospheric carbon to fall

Question 18

What can temperature change be caused by?

Answer 18

Super-volcanic eruptions

Question 19

Wildfire impacts on Water Cycle

Answer 19

Increased condensation nuclei- clouds thinner (can lead to up to 20% less precipitation)
Biospheric water store lost
Increased runoff as no interception
Decreased evapotranspiration, increased drought

Question 20

Wildfire impact on Carbon Cycle

Answer 20

Carbon rich ash in soil- increased lithospheric store
Plant species not adapted to carbon rich soils, no growth, no leaf litter, no decomposition
Soils not protected- washed into hydrosphere

Question 21

Natural Causes of Wildfires

Answer 21

Global temperature increases

Increased droughts, make wildfires more common

Question 22

Human Factors impacting Water and Carbon Cycles

Answer 22

Deforestation
Agriculture
Fossil Fuels / Climate Change
Wildfires

Question 23

Deforestation impacts on Water Cycle

Answer 23

Increased condensation nuclei, thinner clouds, less precipitation
Biospheric water store lost
Increased runoff as no interception
Reduced evapotranspiration, reducing cloud cover

Question 24

Deforestation impacts on Carbon Cycle

Answer 24

75% of Brazil’s greenhouse gases
Roots no longer hold soil together, top layer washed into rivers
Less leaf litter, less decomposition

Question 25

What % of deforestation is for agriculture?

Answer 25

80%

Question 26

Agriculture impacts on Water Cycle

Answer 26

Water use controlled- abstraction Less vegetation, less interception and root uptake- increased runoff Cattle compact ground, reduced infiltration

Question 27

Wildfire impacts on Water Cycle

Answer 27

Increased condensation nuclei- clouds thinner (can lead to up to 20% less precipitation) Biospheric water store lost Increased runoff as no interception Decreased evapotranspiration, increased drought

Question 28

Fossil Fuel and Climate impact on Carbon Cycle

Answer 28

Increased chance of wildfires | 4 degree temp increase would kill 85% of vegetation- less carbon in biosphere, less decomposition, less photosynthesis

Question 29

Natural Causes of Wildfires

Answer 29

Global temperature increases | Increased droughts, make wildfires more common

Question 30

Human Factors impacting Water and Carbon Cycles

Answer 30

Deforestation Agriculture Fossil Fuels / Climate Change Wildfires

Question 31

Human causes of Wildfires

Answer 31

Slash and burn Accidental Arson

Question 32

Deforestation impacts on Water Cycle

Answer 32

Increased condensation nuclei, thinner clouds, less precipitation Biospheric water store lost Increased runoff as no interception Reduced evapotranspiration, reducing cloud cover

Question 33

Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation

Answer 33

``` 8 countries Investing in education and research Environmental protection Reverse loss of forest cover though sustainable forest management: Monitor illegal logging Restore forests ```

Question 34

Agriculture impacts on Water Cycle

Answer 34

Water use controlled- abstraction Less vegetation, less interception and root uptake- increased runoff Cattle compact ground, reduced infiltration

Question 35

Agriculture impact on Carbon Cycle

Answer 35

Machinery = fossil fuels Cattle ruminate- methane Ploughing increases decomposition Livestock and cattle are temporary stores of carbon

Question 36

Fossil Fuel and Climate Change impact on Water Cycle

Answer 36

Temperature increases- drought Peak rainfall decreases Less vegetation as not adapted to conditions Wildfires

Question 37

Brazilian Forest Code

Answer 37

Landowners keep 50-80% of land kept forested

Question 38

Reforestation

Answer 38

Peru will restore 3.2 million hectares by 2020 | Important that native trees restored so local water and carbon cycles return to original state

Question 39

Creation of Forest Reserves

Answer 39

Para Rainforest Reserve Covers an area larger than England Logging monitored and prevented

Question 40

Selective Logging

Answer 40

Only oldest trees felled Maintains forest structure Soil not exposed

Question 41

Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation

Answer 41

8 countries Reverse loss of forest cover though sustainable forest management: Monitor illegal logging Restore forests

Question 42

TARAPOTO

Answer 42

8 countries Investing in education and research Environmental protection