Case Study: Carbon Cycle - Tropical Rainforest Flashcards
What is the annual rainfall in the Tropical Rainforest?
2000mm
What is the average temperature in the Tropical Rainforest?
27℃
What has happened to the atmosphere in the tropical rainforest due to deforestation?
Atmosphere becomes less humid as evapotranspiration is reduced.
What happens to rainfall due to their being less trees?
Most rainfall reaches the ground immediately, compacting it and encouraging overland flow.Exposed to the sun, the soil becomes very dry and vulnerable to erosion.
What will happen to the rates of runoff?
Increase
What happens as the rate of runoff increase?
Increase risk of flooding
What is estimated that deforestation will effect?
Places downwind, perhaps reducing rainfall by up to 20%.
What has half of the world’s rainforests been wiped out?
Commercial farming, mining, logging, settlements - often resulting in fires.
What happens to photosynthesis and respiration caused by deforestation?
Photosynthesis ceases and respiration drops.
How much carbon does the TRF absorb?
A huge amount
How much of the world’s oxygen does the TRF produce?
28%
What does the TRF allow a considerable amount back int the atmosphere?
Water through evapotranspiration
What percentage of rainfall does the canopy intercept?
75%
What happens to the other 25%?
Evaporated
Of the 75% intercepted what is it used for?
Half is used by the plants and the other half either infiltrates into the ground or runs-off to the river.
What is the wet and warm climate ideal for?
Ideal for plant growth, promoting photosynthesis and respiration.
What is an example of the TRF?
Indonesia
What was Indonesia like in the 1960s?
80% rainforest
What is materials from the TRF used for?
paper, pulp, plywood, palm oil
How much of the TRF in Indonesia remains?
Only 50%
How many hectares are cleared each year?
1 million hectares
What happens to peat when exposed?
Is easily eroded by wind and rain
What has the TRF become due to the high rates of decomposition?
They have turned into a source not a sink
What is the quickest way to clear the tropical rainforest?
Using fires
What has the tropical rainforest become due to the way they are being cleared?
The third largest emitter - 85% from rainforest and peatland loss.
What happened to the tropical rainforest in 1997-98?
Huge fires, more than 8 million hectares had been burnt. Estimated that these fires produced more CO2 than all the living things on earth remove from the atmosphere in one year.
