Cycle Interraction Case Study: The Amazon

Question 1

Where is the Amazon Rainforest?

Answer 1

South America, stretching between the Andes and the Atlantic, either side of the Equator. It occupies the basin of the Amazon river

Question 2

How much of Brazil is covered by rainforest? What is the total area it covers?

Answer 2

68%

7.3 million km2

Question 3

Which countries does the Amazon occupy?

Answer 3

Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, Peru, Bolivia, Columbia, Venezuela

Question 4

What’s the average climate of the Amazon?

Answer 4

Rainfall of 2677mm per year

Temperatures between 25 and 27 degrees C

Question 5

How many species live in the Amazon?

Answer 5

1300 birds
428 amphibians 
427 mammals 
378 reptiles 
3000 fish

Question 6

Why is the Amazon able to support so much life?

Answer 6

Easy access to water
Variations in climate due to the layers of canopy
Consistently warm temperatures

Question 7

How many trees can the Amazon sustain? How much carbon can they store?

Answer 7

300 billion

1/5 th of all biospheric carbon

Question 8

What is the proportion of rainfall reaches each possible destination?

Answer 8

75% intercepted
-half of which is absorbed by plants
-half of which runs off or infiltrates the ground
25% evaporates

Question 9

What does the Amazon’s location mean for its local water supply?

Answer 9

It has an enclosed regional water cycle, as water evaporates from the Atlantic and is blown West until it reaches the Andes, causing it to follow a circular path back to the ocean

Question 10

How much of the rainforest was cleared in the 1960s

Answer 10

17%
An area roughly the size of France
19386km2 per year

Question 11

How much carbon does the Amazon absorb and emit in a typical year?

Answer 11

2.2 billion tonnes absorbed
1.9 billion tonnes released
Net absorption of 300 million tonnes

Question 12

What are the main reasons for the Amazon shrinking?

Why are these an issue?

Answer 12

Logging
Cattle Ranching
Roads
They don’t allow the trees to regrow and create drier soils

Question 13

Why does a lack of transpiration lead to decreased rainfall?

Answer 13

Less water in the air

Reduction in salts which aid cloud formation

Question 14

How does slash and burn deforestation affect soils?

Answer 14

Soils become less porous

Soils dry and harden

Question 15

Why is burning rainforest bad for the carbon cycle?

Answer 15

Stored carbon is instantly released as CO2
Soils dry out, reducing their storage capacity
Dead vegetation cannot photosynthesise
Dried vegetation is susceptible to future burning

Question 16

How can changing rainfall affect the Amazon?

Answer 16

The rainforest is highly dependent on specific rainfall levels. Without enough rain, rainforest transforms into savannah. Alternatively, other areas may become rainforest with enough rain

Question 17

What could a 3 degree rise do to the Amazon?

Answer 17

Destroy 75% of it through drought

Question 18

How can rising sea levels affect the Amazon?

Answer 18

Thermal expansion reduces the amount of land for Amazonian species to live on. Human separation of animal species has made mass migrations more difficult, leading to population decline

Question 19

What is climate change mitigation?

Answer 19

Taking action to reduce the impact of future climate change.

Question 20

In what three ways can climate change be mitigated?

Answer 20

Using new green technologies
Making older technologies more efficient
Employing new management strategies

Question 21

What is the TARAPORO process?

Answer 21

A scheme which has established 12 key criteria to sustainably manage the rainforest

Question 22

When were the TARAPOTO process and the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation set up?

Answer 22

1995

Question 23

Which countries are members of the ACTO?

Answer 23

Bolivia
Brazil
Columbia 
Equador 
Guyana
Peru
Suriname 
Venezuela

Question 24

What does ACTO aim to do?

Answer 24

Prevent illegal logging
Create reforestation areas
Promote Agro-forestry schemes

Question 25

What is Agro-forestry?

Answer 25

Developing new farming techniques which work with the rainforest to reduce the need for deforestation and allow diversification of income

Question 26

What has UNESCO done?

Answer 26

Established over 15 million hectares as protected national parks