The Amazon Flashcards

1
Q

What area does the Amazon cover?

A

7,000,000km2

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2
Q

Which countries does the Amazon cover?

A

Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia etc

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3
Q

How much of the world’s rainforest does the Amazon make up?

A

More than half

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4
Q

How many different species are there in the Amazon?

A

10 million

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5
Q

How much of the world’s CO2 does the Amazon absorb?

A

35%

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6
Q

How much of the world’s Oxygen does the Amazon produce?

A

20%

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7
Q

What is the average rainfall per year?

A

3000mm

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8
Q

Why does up to half of rainfall never make it to the ground?

A

It is intercepted by the forest canopy and re-evaporated into the atmosphere

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9
Q

What happens to water intercepted by the canopy?

A

It drips to the ground from leaves (drip tips) or flows down the tree via stemflow

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10
Q

What percentage of freshwater entering the oceans each day comes from the Amazon river?

A

15%

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11
Q

What can deforestation increase?

A
  • Rainfall downwind of the area.
  • Soil erosion
  • Faster surface runoff
  • Loss of habitats
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12
Q

What are the main drivers of change to the Amazon water cycle?

A

Deforestation, land use changes, climate change

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13
Q

How can land use change affect the water cycle?

A

Cutting down trees for farming means water can fall straight to the ground, causing soil erosion and runoff

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14
Q

Why does deforestation reduce rainfall in the area?

A

Because the water cycle is disrupted as evapotranspiration does not occur and less water is stored in plants, and more in soil

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15
Q

Why is water less likely to evaporate from soils?

A
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16
Q

Why is water less likely to evaporate from soils?

A

Because it forms a thin layer on a leaf so can evaporate quickly with less energy, but when it reaches the soil it soaks in

17
Q

What does a decrease in evaporation lead to?

A

Local warming and droughts

18
Q

What do rainforests act as?

A

Carbon sinks

19
Q

How do plants store Carbon?

A

As sugars, in the form of starch in their leaves

20
Q

How does deforestation by burning affect the carbon cycle?

A

No respiration by trees, no photosynthesis, no new biomass, less decay

21
Q

What human factors can affect carbon cycle stores and transfers?

A

Industry and burning of fossil fuels, burning of forest

22
Q

How do warmer oceans affect carbon stores?

A

Warmer oceans cannot hold as much CO2 so absorb less carbon

23
Q

What physical factors can affect carbon cycle stores and transfers?

A

Tress and plants, temperature changes, type and number of animals in an area

24
Q

How can extreme events of climate change alter vegetation?

A

Heatwaves, drought and storms can lead to vegetation deaths and fires

25
Q

How will the Amazon have changed by 2050?

A

Forest dieback due to vegetation succession and fire is predicted to result in the Amazon region becoming a net source of Carbon Dioxide

26
Q

Why do forest fires increase with climate change?

A

A dry seasons lengthen and become more intense, trees have more time to dry out and forest fires become more common

27
Q

What has been done in the Amazon to mitigate climate change?

A

National parks and forest reserves have been created

28
Q

What are examples of national parks?

A

Turnucumaque National Park and Para Rainforest Reserve

29
Q

What is the Amazon often used for?

A

Biofuel production

30
Q

What initiative is in place to reduce deforestation?

A

Land owners are paid not to cut down their trees and clear property rights are established to reduce land grabbing and illegal logging

31
Q

What agreements are in place to mitigate climate change?

A

Latin American Technical Co-Operation Network in Watershed Management
The Tarapoto Process
Amazon Co-operation Treaty Organisation

32
Q

What do the Latin American Technical Co-Operation Network in Watershed Management do?

A

Aims to promote the adoption of the concept of watershed as the planning and management unit most appropriate for rational use of natural resources

33
Q

What does the Latin American Technical Co-operation Network in Watershed Management follow?

A

3 of the UN Development Goals

34
Q

What is the aim of the Tarapoto Process?

A

Recognising the Amazon Co-operation Treaty as the most effective instrument for discussion and agreement on policies for the region

35
Q

What is an important achievement for the Tarapoto process?

A

The development of regional criteria and indicators for the sustainability of the rainforest, recognising that each country’s management has an impact on the region’s forest resources

36
Q

What is the objective of the Amazon Co-operation Treaty Organisation?

A

To promote harmonious development in the region and the well-being of their populations, and to strengthen the sovereignty of countries over the Amazon territories

37
Q

What is currently being implemented within ACTO?

A

More than 20 initiatives, projects and programs in areas such as environment, indigenous affairs etc

38
Q

What do national parks and rainforest reserves protect the forest from?

A

Deforestation from illegal loggers and farmers

39
Q

Threats to the TRF

A

Deforestation
- Mining
- Agriculture (small scale & commercial)
-Logging
- Cattle farming

Population increase

HEP

Infrastructure development