Amazon Rainforest CS Flashcards
Describe the characteristics of the Amazon
Largest tropical rainforest
Covers 40% of South America
Very hot and wet climate
Dense vegetation
High biodiversity
Describe the role of the water cycle in the Amazon
High rainfall from evaporated water from the Atlantic ocean
Warm temperatures mean more evaporation which increases precipitation
Dense vegetation means interception is high
Describe the role of the carbon cycle in the Amazon
Stores lots of carbon in vegetation and soil
Carbon sink
Increased CO2 in the atmosphere has lead to increased plant productivity
More CO2 for photosynthesis
CO2 released by decomposers
Respiration releases CO2
How deforestation affects the WC
Deforested areas, no trees to intercept rainfall
More water reaches the soil
Water runs off into rivers, increasing flood risk
Deforestation reduces rate of evapotranspiration
Reduced rainfall
Increases risk of drought
How deforestation affects CC
Without roots holding soil, heavy rain washes away nutrient rich soil
Carbon transferred from soil to the hydrosphere
Less leaf litter means less humus formed, soil cant support much growth
Limits the amount of carbon stored
Trees remove CO2 from the atmosphere. Fewer trees means more atmospheric CO2
Enhances greenhouse effect
Impacts of deforestation
Climate change
Economic development
Soil erosion
Strategies to manage tropical rainforests
Protection
Reforestation
Improved agricultural techniques
Describe protection used for the Amazon rainforest
Making areas national parks and nature reserves
IBAMA
Uses of environmental laws in the Amazon rainforest
Laws banning use wood from forests not managed sustainably
Laws against excessive logging
Land use laws
Landowners must have 50-80% land as forest
Use of replanting in the Amazon
New trees planted to replaced cut ones
Plans to restore 3.2 million hectares by 2020
