Earth Life Support Systems Case Studies Flashcards
1
Q
Example of tropical rainforest
A
Amazon rainforest, South America
2
Q
Example of artic tundra
A
Alaska, USA (ANWR)
3
Q
Two examples where water extraction takes place?
A
California, USA
River Kennett, UK
4
Q
What is the locational context/background for the Amazon Rainforest with a key area?
A
Along the equator and the madeira basin is the specific drainage basin
4
Q
What is the convection of the rainforest
A
High humidity - high atmospheric water store which leads to the development of thunderstorm clouds and intense precipitation
4
Q
What is the average rainfall for the forest?
A
More than 2,000 continuous precipitation
5
Q
How high are the temperatures in the tropical rainforest?
A
High temperatures 25-38*C all year
5
Q
What type of rain does the Madeira basin have in the west s/west Andes?
A
Orographic
6
Q
Is the evaporation and cycling of water slow or fast in the rainforest?
A
Fast
7
Q
What percentage of water is ‘evapotranspirated’ back into the atmosphere (recycled)
A
50-60%
8
Q
How much water is intercepted in the rainforest due to the high vegetation?
A
10%
9
Q
Flows of water in the rainforest relating to vegetation?
A
Stem flow and root absorption
10
Q
How does the Madeira Basin relate to the flows of water?
A
It has steep relief and impermeable geology = run-off processes (overland flow)
11
Q
What is a primary store of water in the Amazon rainforest?
A
In trees and vegetation
12
Q
Why is there few underground stores or flows of water in the Amazon rainforest?
A
Due to interception rates - the ground is saturated - organically rich soil can retain more water
13
Q
Is the carbon cycle fast or slow in the Amazon rainforest and why?
A
Fast - quick exchanges are dominant
14
Q
What is the Net Primary Production in the Amazon rainforest (NPP)
A
2,000g/m2/yr (fast plant growth)
15
Q
What is decomposition like in the Amazon rainforest?
A
High rates and quick due to biomass and humidity
16
Q
Is the Amazon a global or local carbon store
A
Global
17
Q
How many tonnes of carbon is stored in above ground and in root biomass respectively in the Amazon Rainforest?
A
180 tonnes and 40 tonnes
18
Q
What is the organic material in soil called (also a Co2 store)
A
Humus
19
Q
Is photosynthesis rates high or low in the Amazon Rainforest?
A
High
20
Q
How many trees are there in the Amazon rainforest and how many tones of carbon do they store?
A
40million trees that sore 60bn tonnes of carbon
21
Q
How many tonnes of carbon does the Amazon Rainforest sequester each year aprox?
A
2.4bn/tonnes/yr
22
How many of the world's species reside in the Amazon rainforest and what does that do?
30% and it creates high respiration
23
Is the Amazon rainforest a fast or slow nutrient cycle?
Fast cycle - biomass is the biggest store in the gershmel model
24
What rocks are absent of carbonates in the Amazon Rainforest?
Igneous
25
What rock is found in the Madeira Basin and what does that have to do with the carbon cycle?
Limestone = slow carbon cycle as regional significance
26
What is the impacts on the water cycle due to deforestation in the Amazon rainforest?
Reduced water storage in vegetation and soils - reduced evapotranspiration generally
27
What is the projected % decline of regional precipitation in the amazon rainforest due to deforestation?
20%
28
What dam was built on the Madeira basin river?
The San Antonio Dam
29
What is the impact of the San Antonio Dam on the water cycle upstream?
Became flooded, which increased evapotranspiration and rainfall
30
What is the impact of the San Antonio Damn on the water cycle downstream?
River flow is reduced causing evapotranspiration and rainfall decrease
31
What % does cattle ranching account for in current deforestation?
80%
32
What does the conversion of forest to pasture/grassland do to the water cycle in the Amazon rainforest?
Reduces infiltration rates causes a projected 27% increase in run off and increased flood risk
33
What does deforestation do to the carbon cycle in the Amazon rainforest?
Reduces the biomass carbon store causing a reduction in photosynthesis
34
Has the Amazon Rainforest absorbed or released more carbon over the past 10 years and by how much?
Released 20% more carbon
35
What impact does the San Antonio dam have on the carbon cycle?
Dams lead to upstream areas to become flooded so the submerged vegetation decays releasing Co2 and methane
36
What impact does agriculture have on the carbon cycle?
Croplands and pasture replace forest areas which reduces organic matter input into soil. Causing the loss of soil fertility (soil carbon store reduces)
37
What does the 'slash and burn' technique of deforestation do to the carbon cycle in the Amazon Rainforest?
Releases Co2 in form of combustion and removes biomass store of carbon, reducing the capability to store
38
How many years does it take for the rainforest to recover from deforestation?
10 years
39
Since 1970 how much of the rainforest has been lost?
1/5th
40
Why has the Madeira Basin have experienced flood rates?
Steep topography and increased run-off e.g. flood in 2014 where 50% of the run off goes into the river
41
What are the global impacts of deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest?
Contributes to climate change - less carbon storage in the globe
42
What are the seasonal changes in the Amazon Rainforest?
Little to no seasonal changes on the equator but diurnal
43
Name three management strategies in the Amazon rainforest
1. Forest Protection Legislation
2. Reforestation
3. Improving agricultural techniques
44
What is an example of Forest Protection Legislation?
By 2015, 44% of the Brazillian Amazon comprised national parks, wildlife reserves and indigenous reserves where farming is banned.
UN REDD projects
45
How does the Forest protection legislation impact the water cycle?
Increased biosphere water storage. Maintains interception rates, reduces run-off and so avoids an increase in river channel flow. Transpiration rates maintain, ensuring the cycle of condensation and precipitation
46
How does the Forest protection legislation impacts the carbon cycle?
Increased biosphere carbon storage. Reduced water run off reduces leached carbon from soil. Maintains photosynthesis rates to sequester carbon from atmospheric store
47
What is the limitations of the forest protection legislation?
Not all areas are protected. No definite time period for these areas being protected
48
What is an example/evidence of the reforestation management strategy for the Amazon Rainforest?
The plan is fore 20 million fast-growing, tropical hardwood seedlings planted on 4000 smallholdings to mature over a period of 25 years
49
What is the impact of reforestation on the water cycle?
Increased biosphere water storage. Increases interception rates, reduces run-off and so avoids an increase in river channel flow. Transpiration rates are increased, ensuring the cycle of condensation and precipitation
50
What is the impacts of the reforestation management strategy on the carbon cycle?
Increased biosphere carbon storage. Reduced water run-off reduces leached carbon from the soil. Increases photosynthesis rates to sequester carbon from atmospheric store.
51
What is the limitations of the reforestation management strategy in the Amazon rainforest?
Replanted forests are not as effect carbon sinks as virgin primary rainforest. Projects are monocultures - lose of biodiversity
52
What is an example/evidence of the Improving agricultural techniques management strategy
Soil fertility can be maintained by rotational cropping and combining livestock and arable operations; diversification
53
What impact does improving agricultural techniques have on the water cycle?
Improves infiltration rates of water into the soil, further improving percolation and increasing groundwater storage. Reduces surface runoff caused by deforestation and therefore maintaining channel flow
54
What impact does the improving agricultural techniques management strategy have on the carbon cycle
Reduces lost soil carbon as surface runoff is reduced. Livestock may support carbon input to soil through fertilisation. Different plants may improve photosynthesis rates
55
What is the limitations of the improving agricultural techniques management strategy?
Skills gap - lack of knowledge, awareness and education to implement this. Still lose primary rainforest.
56
What is the locational context/background for the Artic Tundra?
High latitudes - 66.5 degrees north/south. The Arctic: Alaska and co - focus on Prudhoe Bay
57
Give an overview of the climate of Alaska relating to the water cycle
Cold and low humidity - seasonal changes
58
Does the water cycle remain static in the winter of Alaska with how much precipitation it receives (mainly snow)
It does - 50 to 350mm of precipitation
59
What level is the surface run off in winter in Alaska?
Low level
60
Why is there low evapotranspiration rates in Alaska (Arctic region)
There is no heat from the short days (on average)
61
Why is there little interception in Alaskan artic region?
No/little plant growth - mostly shrubs
62
What does permafrost do to percolation/throughflow in the Arctic region of Alaska
Creates a barrier
63
What is the main store of water in the Alaskan artic region?
The cryosphere and permafrost
64
What is the other store of water in the summer of the Alaskan artic region?
Standing/saturated water
65
Give an overview of the climate in the Arctic region of Alaska relating to the carbon cycle
Slow exchanges - slow carbon cycle dominant.
66
What is the Net Primary Production of the Arctic region of Alaska?
200g/m2/year
67
How much does the cryosphere/permafrost store globally?
1600GT
68
How long has the permafrost stored for?
500,000 years
69
Why is there a low biomass store in the Arctic region of Alaska?
Due to average low temperatures, sunlight and precipitation. Plant remains also store carbon for 500,000 years due to lack of decay/melting
70
What does the crystalline structure of the rocks in the Arctic tundra have to do with the carbon cycle?
They are harder to erode, so store carbon longer than an area with mechanical weathering
71
How much of the global carbon soil and worlds carbon generally does the Arctic Tundra store respectively?
1/2 global soil carbon and 1/3rd of world's carbon
72
What are the primary flows of carbon in the arctic tundra? (think vegetation and seasonal changes)
Slow decomposition and limited organic matter. Limited photosynthesis and respiration due to lack of flora and fauna.
Summer causes the permafrost to melt - CO2 release
73
What is the ANWR in the arctic tundra?
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - one of the largest unspoiled, intact ecosystems on the planet
74
How many species live in the ANWR and give three examples
200 - bears, wolves and moose
75
What human activities and industries are threatening the ANWR?
Oil and gas drilling, population increase and construction
76
What is the production rate of the Prudhoe Bay oil field?
It has generated more than 12.5 billon barrels of oil - bringing in $141bill in revenues
77
What happened in 2006 at the Prudhoe Bay oil field?
The field's largest oil spill - a corroded BP pipeline ruptured and leaked roughly 267,000 gallons of oil
78
What effects did the 2006 Prudhoe Bay oil spill have?
It was devastating to the local wildlife due to the difficulty in cleaning up crude and recovery from the spills in the arctic is slower due to the cold temps
79
How much oil does the Trans-Alaskan pipeline transport
212 million barrels of oil every year
80
What issues has the Trans Alaskan pipe caused locally?
It crosses indigenous ancestral lands, earthquake zones, melting permafrost, interrupts caribou herd's migration routes and oil spillages
81
What are some future issues for the Trans Alaskan pipeline?
Corrosion causing oil leaks, freezing over and earthquakes
82
What are the 5 management strategies for the Trans Alaskan pipe line?
1. Insulated ice and gravel pads
2. Buildings and pipelines elevated on piles
3. Drilling laterally beyond drilling platforms (creates fewer sites and so less damage)
4. More powerful computers can detect oil & gas earing geological structures remotely
5. Refrigerated supports
83
How does the deadhorse oil refinery installation impact the water cycle?
Each year aprox. 20 billion barrels of water are extracted and used to refine oil, depleting groundwater and river water stores
84
By how many people did the Prudhoe Bay pop increase between 2000 and 2010?
25 to 3000
85
How does the Prudhoe Bay population increase have an impact on the carbon and water cycle?
Increased urbanisation; cement production releases Co2 into the atmospheric store, reduction in biosphere carbon storage and increased overland water flows due to impermeable urban surfaces which also have a lower albedo, enhancing localised solar radiation absorption and warming
86
How does the construction of the 666km Dalton Highway impact the water and carbon cycle?
Asphalt production releases CO2 into the atmospheric store and reduction in biosphere carbon storage and increased overland water flows due to impermeable urban surfaces
87
How does the Trans Alaska pipeline (oil travels at 60*C) impact the water and carbon cycle?
The heat produced melts permafrost underneath it; releasing CO2 into the atmospheric store and reduce the permafrost carbon store
88
How does oil spills impact the water cycle?
Pollute ocean and groundwater stores for long periods of time
89
How does oil rig flaring impact the carbon cycle?
Flaring releases large quantities of CO2 into the atmosphere
90
What is the percentage of arctic sea ice shrinkage (human induced climate change)
Artic sea ice is now shrinking at a rate of 12.6% per decade compared to its average extent during the period from 1981-2010
91
By how much will the forest and shrub cover increase by 2050 due to temperature increases? (human induced climate change)
52%
92
What will changes in temperature difference cause in relation to polar vortexes?
Can make polar vortex expand further south and increase the frequency and severity of extremely cold storms
93
Due to sea level rise how much has coastal erosion rates increased and what do they threaten?
Doubled in the last two decades and threaten the permafrost areas
94
How much CO2 is being released due to permafrost melt and where?
North Slop of the ANWR - up to 40 million tonnes of Co2
