๐ŸŒ elss sg3 Flashcards

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1
Q

SG3!!! location of amazon rainforest

A

south america, 70% in brazil

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2
Q

average annual temp in amazon

A

27.7 c

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3
Q

average annual rainfall in amazon

A

2000mm

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4
Q

describe seasons in amazon

A

summer: drier
winter/spring: wetter
similar temps all year round however slightly warmer in summer

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5
Q

vegetation in amazon

A
  • over 50% of worlds plant and animal species
  • 300 billion trees
  • 15000 species
  • 20% of worlds oxygen produced
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6
Q

soil characteristics in amazon

A
  • deep due to chemical weathering of bedrock
  • low concentration of nutrients
  • top of soil is high in nutrients but this is washed away by rain
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7
Q

significance of amazon in water cycle

A

river carries 20% of water discharged into earths oceans

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8
Q

significance of amazon in carbon cycle

A
  • NPP of 2500 g/m squared per year
  • in 1980s absorbed 2.4 billion tonnes of carbon per year
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9
Q

inputs of water into amazon

A
  • intense sunlight so sun heats oceans and lots of water evaporates
  • hot air and water vapour rises
  • clouds form over ocean (condensation)
  • clouds blow towards amazon
  • rainfall over amazon
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10
Q

explain evapotransporation (ET) positive feedback loop in amazon

A
  • heavy rainfall
  • dense canopy intercepts lots of rainfall, some is lost by transpiration (25% of all evaporation
  • some rain reaches ground
  • water taken up by roots from soil
  • water lost through transpiration from leaves
  • high ET leads to clouds forming
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11
Q

is the amazon a carbon sink or source

A

carbon sink bc takes in more carbon than absorbs

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12
Q

where is most carbon stored in amazon

A

below ground in soil and organic matter - 226 tonnes per hectare

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13
Q

describe flows of carbon in amazon

A

photosynthesis: lots of carbon absorbed bc lots of plants (30 tonnes per hectare)
respiration: lots of carbon released bc lots of plants and animals (25 tonnes released per hectare)
decomposition: lots of organic matter eg leaf litter

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14
Q

describe stores of carbon in amazon

A

atmosphere: little in atmosphere due to lots of photosynthesis
soil: very deep so stores lots of carbon, lots of decomposition
vegetation: lots of plants due to climate so lots of carbon stored in it due to photosynthesis

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15
Q

describe flows of water in amazon

A

precipitation: heavy bc lots of ET
evapotranspiration (ET): lots of it because of climate recycles 50% of all rainfall
run off: high in steep areas (andes) & due to saturated soil

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16
Q

describe stores of water in amazon

A

atmosphere: lots stored due to high ET rates
soil and ground water: high due to deep soil
vegetation: high because lots of plants

17
Q

ahow much of amazon has been deforested since 1970?

A

20%

18
Q

what are the 4 main causes for deforestation in amazon

A

cattle ranching (65%)
small scale agriculture (17%)
large scale agriculture (7%)
logging (3%)

19
Q

what are the 3 strategies for managing deforestation in the amazon?

A

legalisation - amazon regional protected areas (ARPA)
protection & carbon trading - Surui people and un-redd
agroforestry - CREES foundation

20
Q

summarise the legalisation strategy (ARPA)

A
  • aims to protect 15% of amazon
  • largest TRF conservation programme in history (21 years)
  • 37% decrease in deforestation
  • avoids 1.4 billion tonnes of co2 emissions
  • however it doesnโ€™t stop illegal activities from happening eg logging
21
Q

summarise the protection and carbon trading strategy (Surui people & un-redd)

A
  • indigenous people could sell carbon credits to large businesses
  • financed 6 sustainable community developments to generate income
  • however the credits kind of gave big companies a โ€˜guilt free passโ€™ to carry on polluting
  • some of tribe members didnโ€™t like money going to big businesses so teamed up with loggers
  • project was suspended in 2016
22
Q

summarise agroforestry stratergy (CREES foundation

A
  • growing crops while keeping some trees
  • 30,000 trees planted
  • protects soil in long term
  • smaller scale than other projects
23
Q

how does clearing trees affect the carbon cycle

A
  • less photosynthesis
  • more carbon released bc of burning, soil erosion etc
  • more carbon in atmosphere, less in biomass
24
Q

how does converting forest to grassland affect the carbon cycle

A
  • less photosynthesis but still a little bit
  • less decomposition so less carbon stored underground
  • means more carbon has to be stored in atmosphere = global warming
25
Q

how significant are the changes to the carbon cycle in the amazon due to deforestation

A

global: if amazon becomes carbon source, lots more carbon in atmosphere = enhanced greenhouse effect = global warming

26
Q

is the impact of deforestation long term or short term in the amazon

A

long term: tipping point could be reached (when amazon loses the ability to renew itself & permanently becomes a carbon source)

27
Q

how does deforestation increase flood risk in amazon

A

no trees to intercept rainfall so more to soil, soil is saturated, more surface run off into rivers so flood risk is increased

28
Q

named flood event:

A

madeira river basin
- south west of amazon, april 2014
- slopes were clear due to deforestation so water flowed quickly
- 60 people died
- 68000 families displaced

29
Q

how can deforestation lead to drought in the long term

A
  • deforestation
  • less tree coverage to shade grounds so higher air temps
  • more water evaporates from soil
  • soil becomes drier
  • less vegetation supported
  • less evaporation
  • less condensation
  • less rainfall
30
Q

how significant is the impact to the water cycle in the amazon due to deforestation

A

local: mostly just local floods due to increased surface run off

31
Q

is the impact of deforestation short term or long term on the water cycle

A

long term: could destroy soil and make it infertile so vegetation may not be able to grow back

32
Q

is the impact of the drought local, regional or global?

A

local/regional: air has less water vapour so dry air pushed towards andes by winds where it would rise and rain; as thereโ€™s less water vapour there would be less rain

33
Q

are the impacts of the droughts long or short term

A

long term: if 20-25% of TRF is cut down it could reach a tipping point (would change to a savannah like ecosystem)