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Geography- Water and Carbon Cycles > Amazon Rainforest > Flashcards

Amazon Rainforest Flashcards

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1
Q

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

A

20%

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2
Q

How many different species are in the Amazon?

A

15,000

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3
Q

How many countries does the Amazon reach into?

A

9

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4
Q

What is the average rainfall in the Amazon?

Peak rainfall?

A

3,000mm per year

Max: 6,000mm per year

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5
Q

What percentage of rainfall does not reach the ground?

What happens to it?

A

75%

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

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6
Q

How does the rainfall reach the ground?

What happens once it reaches the ground?

A

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

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7
Q

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

A

15%

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8
Q

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

A

17%

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9
Q

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

A

75%

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10
Q

Natural Factors impacting Water and Carbon Cycles

A

Droughts
Disease
Temperature Change (glacial / interglacial)
Wildfires

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11
Q

Drought impact on Water Cycle

A

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

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12
Q

Drought impact on Carbon Cycle

A

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

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13
Q

Disease impact on Water Cycle

A

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

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14
Q

Disease impact on Carbon Cycle

A

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

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15
Q

Why does disease travel quickly in the Amazon?

A

Trees in close proximity

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16
Q

Temperature Change impact on Water Cycle

A

Decreased biospheric water if glacial

Ground freezes- impermeable, reduces infiltration and increases runoff

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17
Q

Temperature Change impacts on Carbon Cycle

A

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

18
Q

What can temperature change be caused by?

A

Super-volcanic eruptions

19
Q

Wildfire impacts on Water Cycle

A

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

20
Q

Wildfire impact on Carbon Cycle

A

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

21
Q

Natural Causes of Wildfires

A

Global temperature increases

Increased droughts, make wildfires more common

22
Q

Human Factors impacting Water and Carbon Cycles

A

Deforestation
Agriculture
Fossil Fuels / Climate Change
Wildfires

23
Q

Deforestation impacts on Water Cycle

A

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

24
Q

Deforestation impacts on Carbon Cycle

A

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

25
Q

What % of deforestation is for agriculture?

A

80%

26
Q

Agriculture impacts on Water Cycle

A

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

27
Q

Wildfire impacts on Water Cycle

A

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

28
Q

Fossil Fuel and Climate impact on Carbon Cycle

A

Increased chance of wildfires

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

29
Q

Natural Causes of Wildfires

A

Global temperature increases

Increased droughts, make wildfires more common

30
Q

Human Factors impacting Water and Carbon Cycles

A

Deforestation
Agriculture
Fossil Fuels / Climate Change
Wildfires

31
Q

Human causes of Wildfires

A

Slash and burn
Accidental
Arson

32
Q

Deforestation impacts on Water Cycle

A

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

33
Q

Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation

A 
8 countries
Investing in education and research
Environmental protection
Reverse loss of forest cover though sustainable forest management:
Monitor illegal logging
Restore forests
34
Q

Agriculture impacts on Water Cycle

A

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

35
Q

Agriculture impact on Carbon Cycle

A

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

36
Q

Fossil Fuel and Climate Change impact on Water Cycle

A

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

37
Q

Brazilian Forest Code

A

Landowners keep 50-80% of land kept forested

38
Q

Reforestation

A

Peru will restore 3.2 million hectares by 2020

Important that native trees restored so local water and carbon cycles return to original state

39
Q

Creation of Forest Reserves

A

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

40
Q

Selective Logging

A

Only oldest trees felled
Maintains forest structure
Soil not exposed

41
Q

Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation

A

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

42
Q

TARAPOTO

A

8 countries
Investing in education and research
Environmental protection

Geography- Water and Carbon Cycles (6 decks)

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