Earth's Life Support System pt 2- amazon rainforest Flashcards
What’s our case study of a tropical rainforest?
The Amazon rainforest
What’s the climate like in a tropical rainforest?
High average annual temperatures of 25-30 degrees.
Low seasonal variation in that temperature.
High average rainfall (no dry season)
What’s the average annual temperatures in a tropical rainforest?
25-30 degrees
What’s the average rainfall in a tropical rainforest?
2000mm
Why are there high average temperatures in a tropical rainforest?
As the sun shines directly over head with the concentration of the sun’s rays.
What type of rainfall is found in a tropical rainforest?
mainly convectional rainfall and precipitation all year round, due to intertropical convergence zone or low pressure belts dominating.
What does the intertropical convergence zone do?
It causes low pressure and rainfall all year round in the amazon rainforest. As it moves south to the tropic of Capricorn it may cause a smaller drier season in equatorial areas in the northern hemisphere.
What are the two different air masses for the intertropical convergence zone?
tropical maritime air mass
tropical continental air mass
What’s the tropical maritime air mass?
In tropical latitudes this air mass is hot to very hot, with high relative humidity, bringing unstable weather.
Where can the tropical maritime air mass be found?
Originates in the Atlantic ocean
What’s the tropical continental air mass?
In tropical latitudes this air mass is hot to very hot, with relatively low humidity, bringing stable weather.
Where can the Tropical continental air mass be found?
Originates in the Sahara desert.
What happens when the two air masses for the intertropical convergence zone meet?
moist air is forced upward, which causes water vapour to condense as the air cools and rises. This results in a band of heavy precipitation around the globe.
What are the flows in the amazon rainforest for the water cycle?
Precipitation
Evaporation
Run-off/ overland flow
What are the stores in the amazon rainforest for the water cycle?
Soils/ groundwater
Vegetation
Atmosphere
Precipitation in amazon rainforest water cycle:
High average of around 2000mm of rain per year. - 10% of that is intercepted by trees.
Convectional rainfall
Evaporation in amazon rainforest water cycle:
High evapotranspiration due to high temperatures, rainfall and dense vegetation.
50% of the incoming rain is returned to the atmosphere by evapotranspiration.
Run-off/overland flow in amazon rainforest water cycle:
Rapid run-off due to high rainfall.
River discharge peaks on one or two months per year.
Atmosphere in amazon rainforest water cycle:
High temperature means large amounts of moisture stored in the atmosphere, therefore high absolute humidity.
Vegetation in amazon rainforest water cycle:
Rainforest trees absorb and store water from the soil and release it by transpiration.
Soil/ groundwater in amazon rainforest water cycle:
Deep tropical soils/ high rainfall means large storage of water in soils or aquifers.
Where does the losses of water in the Amazon rainforest basin come from?
river flows out to the Atlantic ocean, and the export of water vapour to the atmosphere.
Where does the inward flux of moisture to the water system come from in the Amazon rainforest basin?
moisture from the Atlantic Ocean.
What percentage of carbon in land is stored in biomass in the Amazon rainforest?
40-50%