Amazon Rainforest Flashcards
How much of the carbon stored in the planet’s biomass is in the Amazon rainforest?
20%
How many different species are in the Amazon?
15,000
How many countries does the Amazon reach into?
9
What is the average rainfall in the Amazon?
Peak rainfall?
3,000mm per year
Max: 6,000mm per year
What percentage of rainfall does not reach the ground?
What happens to it?
75%
Intercepted by the forest canopy, so re-evaporated into the atmosphere
How does the rainfall reach the ground?
What happens once it reaches the ground?
Stem flow
Runoff to the rivers
Some infiltrates ground, taken up through roots- stored or leaves through transpiration
Some goes into groundwater
The Amazon river equates to around ___ of the freshwater entering the oceans each day
15%
How much of the Amazon has been lost to deforestation in the last 50 years?
17%
What percentage of Brazil’s greenhouse gas emissions were a result of deforestation?
75%
Natural Factors impacting Water and Carbon Cycles
Droughts
Disease
Temperature Change (glacial / interglacial)
Wildfires
Drought impact on Water Cycle
Loss of biospheric water
Decreased evapotranspiration
Wildfires
Impermeable ground = decreased infiltration and increased runoff
Drought impact on Carbon Cycle
Vegetation dries out and dies
Increased decomposition, more carbon in lithosphere
Wildfires
Disease impact on Water Cycle
Areas with no vegetation- reduced interception and increased runoff
Less biospheric water
Reduced evapotranspiration, reduced cloud cover, increased drought risk
Disease impact on Carbon Cycle
Loss of vegetation, reduced biospheric carbon
Organic material resulting will decompose- increases lithospheric store
Soil bare- washed into hydrosphere
Why does disease travel quickly in the Amazon?
Trees in close proximity
Temperature Change impact on Water Cycle
Decreased biospheric water if glacial
Ground freezes- impermeable, reduces infiltration and increases runoff
Temperature Change impacts on Carbon Cycle
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
What can temperature change be caused by?
Super-volcanic eruptions
Wildfire impacts on Water Cycle
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
Wildfire impact on Carbon Cycle
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
Natural Causes of Wildfires
Global temperature increases
Increased droughts, make wildfires more common
Human Factors impacting Water and Carbon Cycles
Deforestation
Agriculture
Fossil Fuels / Climate Change
Wildfires
Deforestation impacts on Water Cycle
Increased condensation nuclei, thinner clouds, less precipitation
Biospheric water store lost
Increased runoff as no interception
Reduced evapotranspiration, reducing cloud cover
Deforestation impacts on Carbon Cycle
75% of Brazil’s greenhouse gases
Roots no longer hold soil together, top layer washed into rivers
Less leaf litter, less decomposition
What % of deforestation is for agriculture?
80%
Agriculture impacts on Water Cycle
Water use controlled- abstraction
Less vegetation, less interception and root uptake- increased runoff
Cattle compact ground, reduced infiltration
Wildfire impacts on Water Cycle
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
Fossil Fuel and Climate impact on Carbon Cycle
Increased chance of wildfires
4 degree temp increase would kill 85% of vegetation- less carbon in biosphere, less decomposition, less photosynthesis
Natural Causes of Wildfires
Global temperature increases
Increased droughts, make wildfires more common
Human Factors impacting Water and Carbon Cycles
Deforestation
Agriculture
Fossil Fuels / Climate Change
Wildfires
Human causes of Wildfires
Slash and burn
Accidental
Arson
Deforestation impacts on Water Cycle
Increased condensation nuclei, thinner clouds, less precipitation
Biospheric water store lost
Increased runoff as no interception
Reduced evapotranspiration, reducing cloud cover
Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation
8 countries Investing in education and research Environmental protection Reverse loss of forest cover though sustainable forest management: Monitor illegal logging Restore forests
Agriculture impacts on Water Cycle
Water use controlled- abstraction
Less vegetation, less interception and root uptake- increased runoff
Cattle compact ground, reduced infiltration
Agriculture impact on Carbon Cycle
Machinery = fossil fuels
Cattle ruminate- methane
Ploughing increases decomposition
Livestock and cattle are temporary stores of carbon
Fossil Fuel and Climate Change impact on Water Cycle
Temperature increases- drought
Peak rainfall decreases
Less vegetation as not adapted to conditions
Wildfires
Brazilian Forest Code
Landowners keep 50-80% of land kept forested
Reforestation
Peru will restore 3.2 million hectares by 2020
Important that native trees restored so local water and carbon cycles return to original state
Creation of Forest Reserves
Para Rainforest Reserve
Covers an area larger than England
Logging monitored and prevented
Selective Logging
Only oldest trees felled
Maintains forest structure
Soil not exposed
Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation
8 countries
Reverse loss of forest cover though sustainable forest management:
Monitor illegal logging
Restore forests
TARAPOTO
8 countries
Investing in education and research
Environmental protection
