ELSS 2 Flashcards
AMAZON RAINFOREST
water cycle features
- high temps allow high atmospheric store of moisture due to every 1 degree increase 7% more is held
- high average rainfall above 2000mm/year ( convectional)
- 10% of water is intercepted, interception loss accounts for 1/4 of all evaporation
- rapid run off due to high and powerful rainfall
- soils are well drained = infiltraition and groundwater storage
- evapotranspiration due to high temps = 1/2 od precipitation caused by this
AMAZON RAINFOREST
water cycle factors affecting
GEOLOGY
- impermeable crystaline rocks = run off
AMAZON RAINFOREST
water cycle factors affecting
RELIEF
- gentle relief, water moves across the surface or horizontally by throughflow, western areas has steep catchments = rapid run off
AMAZON RAINFOREST
water cycle factors affecting
TEMP
- high temp = high evapotranspiration, high convectional rainfall
AMAZON RAINFOREST
Carbon cycle
- large rainfall and co2 from air = glucose
- npp of 2500g/m2/year
- biomas 400-700t/ha
- carbon fixation high due to high rates of reaction
- decomposition sped up due to ideal humid conditions for decomposers ( fungi )
AMAZON RAINFOREST
carbon cycle factors affecting
TEMP
- increased rainfall stimulates npp = 2500
- promotes evapotranspiration and decomposition by fungi = minerals and nutrients fixed into soil and used. by vegetation, and co2 releaced
AMAZON RAINFOREST
carbon cycle factors affecting
VEGATATION
dominates the biomass = principle carbon sink fixing co2 into biomass anually due to steady conditions 400-700t/ha
AMAZON RAINFOREST
carbon cycle factors affecting
MINERAL COMPOSITION
hold little carbon, some limestone contrbuting to slow carbon cycle
AMAZON RAINFOREST
carbon cycle factors affecting
SOILS
- leached and acidic soils having limited nurients but replenished during decomposition
ARTIC TUNDRA
Water cycle
- low anual precipitation, mostly falling as snow
- small stores of water in atmosphere due to low temp
- low evaporation = sun energy used for ablation
- limited transpiration due to sparceness of vegetation, bio active season only 3 months
- limited groundwater = permafrost barrier
ARTIC TUNDRA
Water cycle factors affecting
TEMP
- well below freezing, water stored as ice in permafrost, thaws in summer and forms pools and lakes ( thermocast ) poor drainage due to deep impermeable permafrost
- sub 0 temp = no evapotranspiration
ARTIC TUNDRA
Water cycle factors affecting
Permability
- low infiltration and percolation due to permafrost and crystaline rocks
ARTIC TUNDRA
Water cycle factors affecting
RELIEF
- chaotic glacial deposits impedes draunage = water logging
ARTIC TUNDRA
Carbon cycle
- permafrost = vast carbon sink at 1600GT, low temps = slow and incomplete decompostion
- npp = 200g/m2/year
- biomass = 4-29t/ha
- growing season = tundra imputs carbon rich litter in soil
- winter = snow insulates = some decomposition can occour
- outputs of carbon from permafrost increased due to climate change, stimulating more growth however still in budget
ARTIC TUNDRA
carbonr cycle factors affecting
TEMP
- low temps and unreliability of liquif water limits plant growth therefore carbon biomass small at 4-29t/ha
- waterlogging occours due to ablation = less decomposition
ARTIC TUNDRA
Water cycle factors affecting
VEGATATION
- co2 mainly stored as partly decomposed plants which remail in permafrost
ARTIC TUNDRA
Water cycle factors affecting
ROCK
crystaline rock nto containing carbon
Amazon rainforest madera basin
factors affecting water cycle
- deforestation at 17500km2 a year
- causing reduced water storage in forest trees, soils and permeable rocks due to increased run off and less interception
- water cycle broken, no longer ectracting moisture through interception, transpiration = less stable ground temp = less humidity and rainfall = climate change
- preduction of a 20% decline in regional rainfall
- increased run off leads to devistating floods on madera river ( largest tributary )
- porto velno = 20 m rise = 60 people died and a collerah outbreak
Amazon rainforest madera basin
strategies and evaluation of water cycle
- selective felling = some trees left in an areat to maintain the nutrient cycle
- GOOD AS NOT COMPLETE REMOVAL OF BIOMASS ALLOWS NUTRIENT CYCLE AND REGROWTH
- STILL MAKING MONEY FROM WOOD
- REDUCES PHOTOSYNTHESIS - agro forrestry = growing trees and crops at the same time, farmers take advantage of shelter from canopy.
- PREVENTS SOIL EROSION
- INCREASED CO2 FOR ATMOSPHERE - Manu national park = a diverse number of ecosystems and a biosphere reserve
-PROTECTED AREA = NO DEFORESTATION
- HABITATS KEPT FOR WILDLIFE
Amazon rainforest madera basin
factors affecting carbon cycle
- deforestation durastically reduces imputs of organic material into the soil, soil is depleated of carbon and exposed to strong sunlight = conditions support fewer decomposers
- destroys nutrients including calcium, potassium and magnesium
- palm oil plantation, les then half of co2 per hectare fixed into biomass
Amazon rainforest madera basin
trategies to improve carbon cycle and evaluation
- diversitification = soil fertility maintained by rotational cropping and introdction of livestock. Allows ranching and slows deforestation
- MAINTANS NUTRIENT CYCLE
- DEFORESTATION TO GET AREA - dark soils = manmade from charcoal attracts microorganisms and fungi to retain fertility
- NUTRIENTS REMAIN FOR GROWTH
impact of developing oil and gas induestry on the water and carbon cycle
Tundra
melting of permafrost, releaces co2 and methane and reduces photosynthesis
- dust deposition along roadsides creating darkened survaces, increasing sunlight absorbtion
- strip minging for contruction exposes permaforst
- drainage networks disrupted by road construction = flooding
- construction and operation of industry diffuses heat into environment
- removal of vegetation cover which insulates permafrost
