Amazon rainforest case study

Question 1

How many trees are in the Amazon Rainforest?

Answer 1

There are approximately 300 billion trees in the Amazon Rainforest.

Question 2

How many species of animals are found in the Amazon Rainforest

Answer 2

The Amazon Rainforest is home to 15,000 different species of animals.

Question 3

What percentage of Earth’s carbon is stored in the Amazon Rainforest?

Answer 3

The Amazon Rainforest stores 20% of all of Earth’s carbon.

Question 4

How large is the Amazon Rainforest?

Answer 4

The Amazon Rainforest covers 5.5 million km².

Question 5

How much carbon does the Amazon store?

Answer 5

The Amazon stores between 80-120 billion tons of carbon.

Question 6

How much carbon do all tropical rainforests absorb annually?

Answer 6

Together, all tropical rainforests form a carbon sink of 1-3 gigatons of carbon (GtC) per year.

Question 7

What is happening to the Amazon’s ability to absorb carbon?

Answer 7

The Amazon is beginning to lose its ability to absorb as much carbon due to deforestation and environmental stress.

Question 8

How has increased atmospheric CO2 affected Amazon trees?

Answer 8

Increased atmospheric CO2 led to a growth spurt for Amazon trees, but faster growth also means trees die quicker.

Question 9

How does mining for precious metals affect the Amazon’s carbon stores?

Answer 9

Mining, particularly for gold, disturbs the equilibrium and contributes to the release of carbon from the Amazon’s carbon stores.

Question 10

What is the average discharge of water from the Amazon Basin into the Atlantic Ocean?

Answer 10

The average discharge of water from the Amazon Basin into the Atlantic Ocean is 175,000 m³/s.

Question 11

How deep and wide is the Rio Negro at its mouth?

Answer 11

At its mouth, the Rio Negro is 100 meters deep and 14 kilometres wide.

Question 12

How much rainfall does the Amazon receive annually?

Answer 12

The average rainfall in the Amazon is 2,300 mm per year, with some areas receiving over 6,000 mm.

Question 13

How is climate change affecting the Amazon Rainforest?

Answer 13

Climate change is causing increased temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, more intense storms, biodiversity loss, and increased carbon release due to deforestation.

Question 14

How does heat stress affect Amazon trees and vegetation?

Answer 14

Increased temperatures cause heat stress, hindering growth and reproduction of trees and vegetation in the Amazon.

Question 15

How are altered rainfall patterns affecting the Amazon?

Answer 15

Some areas of the Amazon may experience heavy rainfall while others may face drought, disrupting the forest’s balance.

Question 16

What is the impact of more frequent weather patterns on the Amazon?

Answer 16

More intense storms can damage the forest, further contributing to environmental degradation.

Question 17

How is climate change contributing to biodiversity loss in the Amazon?

Answer 17

Species in the Amazon may struggle to adapt to changing conditions, leading to biodiversity loss.

Question 18

How does deforestation contribute to global warming?

Answer 18

Deforestation in the Amazon releases excess carbon stored in trees, contributing to global warming.