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Physical Geography > Case Studies of Water & Carbon Cycles > Flashcards

Case Studies of Water & Carbon Cycles Flashcards

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1
Q

How long is the River Exe?

A

82.7km from Exmoor to sea at Exmouth (south Devon)

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2
Q

What are the Physical Characteristics of the River Exe?

A

Upper Catchment area=601km^2
Max elevation=514m north
Min elevation=26m south

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3
Q

What are the Geological Factors of the River Exe?

A

84.4% of catchment has impermeable rock under (Devonian Sandstone) = hi drainage network

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4
Q

Outline the Land use of the River Exe?

A

67% = agriculture grassland
15% = woodland/arable farmland
3% = moors & peat bogs

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5
Q

What has affected the Water Cycle of the River Exe?

A
  1. Wimbleball Reservoir construction
  2. Exmoor peatland restoration
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6
Q

When was Wimbleball Reservoir Constructed and what did it do?

A

1979 - dammed River Haddeo

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7
Q

What are the traits of the Wimbleball reservoir?

A

150ha
Regulates water flow
Stops water discharge peaks/troughs (reduce flooding risk)

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8
Q

What happened in Exmoor to peat bogs?

A

Drained for suitable farming

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9
Q

What were the 3 - impacts of draining peat bogs?

A
  1. Hi H2O flow speed to Exe = low H2O quality as more silt downstream
  2. Ugly scars left behind on land
  3. C release from peat as CO2 & CH4
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10
Q

How did the Exmoor Mires Project restore peat bogs?

A

Block drainage ditches with peat blocks/moorland bales

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11
Q

What were 2 + impacts did the Exmoor Mires Project have on the landscape?

A
  1. Increased H2O content
  2. Ground now saturated & boggy - retain C stored in peat
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12
Q

What is the main aim of the Exmoor Mires Project?

A

Restore 2000 ha of Exmore to boggy conditions

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13
Q

What were the results of the Exmoor Mires Project in 2015?

A
  1. > 1000 ha peat moorland restored
  2. Nearly 100km of ditches blocked = water table raised by 2.65cm & drained water reduced by 2/3
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14
Q

Outline 3 benefits of the Exmoor Mires Project.

A
  1. Improved water quality
  2. More H2O/C storage
  3. Improved grazing/water supply for animals
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15
Q

How much does the Amazon Rainforest cover?

A

Covers 40% of South American landmass

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16
Q

Outline the Amazon’s climate?

A

Hot and wet with dense vegetation

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17
Q

Outline the biodiversity in the Amazon

A

1 million plant species
>500 mammal species
>2000 fish species

18
Q

What causes the Amazon to have a wet climate and what is an impact of this?

A

Cause: Atlantic Ocean has hi evaporation = wet air over Amazon
Impact: High rainfall

19
Q

What is an impact of warm temperatures in the Amazon?

A

Hi evaporation = increased precipitation

20
Q

What is the impact of the dense canopy in the Amazon?

A

High interception -> less H2O flow to rivers

21
Q

How has the water cycle affected the Amazon environment?

A

Species have adapted to high humidity/rainfall

22
Q

How is the Amazon a Carbon Sink?

A

Veg & soil stores a lot of carbon

23
Q

How has the high concentration of CO2 affected the Amazon?

A

Higher photosynthesis and Biomass

24
Q

What was another way CO2 impacted the Amazon?

A

High sequestration - important C store

25
Q

What is a negative impact of the high CO2 in the Amazon?

A

Trees grow quick, die young (Carbon Fertilisation)
Can’t rely as a C store

26
Q

How has deforestation affected interception in the water cycle?

A

No tree canopy -> too much water in soil -> surface runoff & flooding

27
Q

How has deforestation affected the evapotranspiration of the Amazon?

A

Low evapotranspiration -> fewer clouds & rainfall = drought

28
Q

How has deforestation affected the transfer of Carbon in the Amazon?

A

Less roots -> rain washes away -> C transferred to Hydrosphere

29
Q

How has deforestation affected soil absorbtion of C?

A

Less leaf litter -> no new growth of soil = less absorption

30
Q

How has deforestation affected the tree’s impact on the C cycle in the Amazon?

A

Less CO2 absorption by trees -> higher global warming

31
Q

Outline the 3 impacts of Climate Change on the Amazon

A
  1. Temperature increase -> droughts in 2005 & 2010
  2. Plants/Animals die in dry weather & forest fires
  3. 4 degree temperature rise -> kill 85% rainforest = decomposition release CO2
32
Q

How has Selective Logging limited human impact on the Amazon?

A

Some trees logged -> forest structure kept = regeneration

33
Q

Outline how replanting limits human impact on the Amazon

A

Replace cut down trees -> Peru planned for 3.2 million ha restoration by 2020
Same tree types used

34
Q

Outline how Environmental Laws limit human impacts on the Amazon

A

Ban excessive logging
Ban unsustainable wood use
Brazilian Forest Code = landowners keep 50-80% of land as forest

35
Q

Outline 2 ways how Protection has limited human impact on the Amazon

A
  1. National Parks/Nature Reserves (e.g Central Amazon Conservation Complex 2003 protects 49000 km^2
  2. Logging in reserves/parks are monitored
36
Q

Outline 3 drivers of change in the Amazon

A
  1. 2000-2007: 19,368km^2 deforesation/yr
  2. Brazil: 75% CO2 emissions by deforestation
  3. Slash & burn forest removal -> low cumulus clouds that don’t rain
37
Q

Outline 3 facts about the Carbon Cycle in the Amazon

A
  1. Stores 80-120 bn tonnes of C
  2. Increase above-ground biomass by 0.3-0.5% per year
  3. Losing capacity to absorb CO2
38
Q

Outline 3 facts about the Water Cycle in the Amazon

A
  1. Annual discharge 15% of fresh water into oceans
  2. Avg annual rainfall = 2,300 mm
  3. 48% evapotranspirated falls again as rain
39
Q

Outline 3 impacts changes of rainfall, extreme rainfall events/seasonality has on rivers

A
  1. Lower river discharge
  2. Flash flooding
  3. Destroy Amazonian H2O supply
40
Q

Outline 3 impacts of warming H2O temperatures on rivers

A
  1. Kill temperature dependent species
  2. Change biodiversity (intro new, kill old)
  3. Low H2O-dissolved O2 concentrations = eggs/larvae die

Physical Geography (7 decks)

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