Causes and impacts of changed to carbon budget in rainforest you have studied

Question 1

What should you write in your introduction?

Answer 1

• Carbon budget is balance between carbon inputs and outputs

- Amazon is a carbon sink (stores 80-120 billion tonnes of carbon)

Question 2

What 3 paragraphs should you write about?

Answer 2

• Deforestation
• Climate change
• Human management

Question 3

What should you include in your point for deforestation?

Answer 3

• Wood for resource and land use (2002/7, 19,368km2 per year)

Question 4

What is the evidence for deforestation?

Answer 4

• Trees photosynthesise and take in Co2
• No roots to hold soil > rain washes top layer of soil containing carbon
• Slash and burn

Question 5

Explain the impact of deforestation?

Answer 5

• Less Co2 is removed > enhanced greenhouse gas effect (global warming)
• Carbon in soil washed away > transfers to hydrosphere

Question 6

How does deforestation cause positive feedback?

Answer 6

These factors limit vegetation growth which amplifies change in the carbon cycle

Question 7

What is the link for deforestation?

Answer 7

• Has a major impact on the carbon budget

- Turns from sink to source

Question 8

What is the point for climate change?

Answer 8

• By 2050 temperature increase by 2-3oC

- Scientists predict that rise in 4oC could kill 85% of forest

Question 9

What is the evidence for climate change?

Answer 9

• As rainforest dies plants would decompose
• High temperature can lead to drought > forest fires (combustion)
• Less trees to photosynthesise

Question 10

Explain the impact of climate change?

Answer 10

• Carbon released from decomposition

- Co2 released by combustion from forest fires

Question 11

What is the link for climate change?

Answer 11

• Poses a threat in the future

- Increase Co2 in atmosphere by fast and slow carbon processes

Question 12

What are the 2 points for human management?

Answer 12

• Selective logging

- Replanting

Question 13

What is the evidence for selective logging and replanting?

Answer 13

Selective logging - only some trees are felled

Replanting - new trees planted to replace old ones

Question 14

Explain the impact of selective logging and replanting?

Answer 14

• Forest structure is still kept > forest can regenerate > reduces impact on carbon budget
• Helps carbon budget return to original state (photosynthesis can take place)

Question 15

What is the link for human management?

Answer 15

• Helps maintain carbon budget and reduce impact

- Impact of other factors are bigger