The Amazon (carbon cycle) Flashcards
What is selective logging as a mitigation strategy?
Only some trees (e.g. just the oldest or only the trees with the wood that is in demand) are cut down and most are left standing.
What is a strength of selective logging?
Less damaging to the forest than cutting down all of the trees in the area. If only a few trees are taken in an area then the forest structure is kept - the canopy is still there and the soil isn’t exposed. This means that the forest is able to regenerate, the the impact on the carbon and water cycle is small.
What is reforestation as a mitigation strategy?
Planting trees in areas without trees. It is important that the same types of trees are replanted that were cut down, so that the variety of tree is kept for the future and the local carbon and water cycles return to their initial state.
By 2025 how much is it expected for temperatures to increase in the Amazon?
2 - 3°C
How many hectares of forest was lost per year between 2000 and 2010? And why?
3.6 million hectares.
Most of this was done deliberately but a significant amount has been a result of climate change.
How has reduced rainfall and high temperatures played a role in vegetation change?
Killed millions of trees.
What did the 2009 study of vegetation change conclude?
A 2°C temperature rise above pre-industrial levels would result in 20-40% of the Amazon trees dying within 10 years.
A 3°C rise would result in 75% of the forest destroyed, mainly through drought.
How much carbon is in Amazonian soils?
4 - 9kg
