Causes and impacts of changed to water balance in rainforest you have studied

Question 1

What should you included in your introduction?

Answer 1

• Water balance shows balance between inputs/outputs
• Largest rainforest in world (300 billion trees)
• 2300mm annual rainfall

Question 2

What are the 3 paragraphs you will talk about?

Answer 2

• Deforestation
• Climate change
• Human management

Question 3

What is the point for deforestation?

Answer 3

• Wood used for resource

- 2002/7 , 19,368 km2 per year destroyed

Question 4

What is the evidence for deforestation?

Answer 4

• No canopy > less interception > more run-off > flashy
• Less evapotranspiration > less rainfall
• Evapotranspiration that does occur forms shallow cumulus clouds (no rain)

Question 5

Explain the impacts of deforestation?

Answer 5

• More run-off > more flooding
• Less rainfall > drought
• Increases temperatures 24.1 - 33oC

Question 6

How does deforestation promote positive feedback?

Answer 6

Factors affecting vegetation amplify changes to water cycle

Question 7

What is the link for deforestation?

Answer 7

• Has a major impact on water balance
• Less input from precipitation
• Faster run-off output

Question 8

What is the evidence for climate change?

Answer 8

• By 2050 temp increase by 2-3oC

- Scientist predict that rise in 4oC could kill 85% of rainforest

Question 9

Explain the impact of climate change?

Answer 9

• Warm temperatures > more evapotranspiration > more precipitation
• Rainforest dies > less interception > more overland flow > shorter lag time

Question 10

What is the link for climate change?

Answer 10

• May have big impact in future

- Has an impact on water balance

Question 11

What are the 2 points for human management?

Answer 11

• Replanting

- Selective logging

Question 12

What is the evidence for replanting and selective logging?

Answer 12

Selective logging - only some trees are felled

Replanting - new trees replace old ones

Question 13

Explain the impact of replanting and selective logging?

Answer 13

• If only some trees are cut down > canopy still there > soil is protected
• Helps water cycle return to original state (dynamic equilibrium)

Question 14

What is the link for human management?

Answer 14

• Helps sustain water balance

- Still outweighed by other factors

Question 15

What should you write in your conclusion?

Answer 15

• Humans having significant impact on water cycle
• Deforestation has largest impact (contributes to other factors)
• Human management has reduced impact
• Potential impact of climate change is massive