Case Study: Carbon Cycle - Tropical Rainforest

Question 1

What is the annual rainfall in the Tropical Rainforest?

Answer 1

2000mm

Question 2

What is the average temperature in the Tropical Rainforest?

Answer 2

27℃

Question 3

What has happened to the atmosphere in the tropical rainforest due to deforestation?

Answer 3

Atmosphere becomes less humid as evapotranspiration is reduced.

Question 4

What happens to rainfall due to their being less trees?

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

What will happen to the rates of runoff?

Answer 5

Increase

Question 6

What happens as the rate of runoff increase?

Answer 6

Increase risk of flooding

Question 7

What is estimated that deforestation will effect?

Answer 7

Places downwind, perhaps reducing rainfall by up to 20%.

Question 8

What has half of the world’s rainforests been wiped out?

Answer 8

Commercial farming, mining, logging, settlements - often resulting in fires.

Question 9

What happens to photosynthesis and respiration caused by deforestation?

Answer 9

Photosynthesis ceases and respiration drops.

Question 10

How much carbon does the TRF absorb?

Answer 10

A huge amount

Question 11

How much of the world’s oxygen does the TRF produce?

Answer 11

28%

Question 12

What does the TRF allow a considerable amount back int the atmosphere?

Answer 12

Water through evapotranspiration

Question 13

What percentage of rainfall does the canopy intercept?

Answer 13

75%

Question 14

What happens to the other 25%?

Answer 14

Evaporated

Question 15

Of the 75% intercepted what is it used for?

Answer 15

Half is used by the plants and the other half either infiltrates into the ground or runs-off to the river.

Question 16

What is the wet and warm climate ideal for?

Answer 16

Ideal for plant growth, promoting photosynthesis and respiration.

Question 17

What is an example of the TRF?

Answer 17

Indonesia

Question 18

What was Indonesia like in the 1960s?

Answer 18

80% rainforest

Question 19

What is materials from the TRF used for?

Answer 19

paper, pulp, plywood, palm oil

Question 20

How much of the TRF in Indonesia remains?

Answer 20

Only 50%

Question 21

How many hectares are cleared each year?

Answer 21

1 million hectares

Question 22

What happens to peat when exposed?

Answer 22

Is easily eroded by wind and rain

Question 23

What has the TRF become due to the high rates of decomposition?

Answer 23

They have turned into a source not a sink

Question 24

What is the quickest way to clear the tropical rainforest?

Answer 24

Using fires

Question 25

What has the tropical rainforest become due to the way they are being cleared?

Answer 25

The third largest emitter - 85% from rainforest and peatland loss.

Question 26

What happened to the tropical rainforest in 1997-98?

Answer 26

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.