The Amazon Rainforest

Question 1

What are the characteristics of the Amazon Rainforest?

Answer 1

• It’s the largest rainforest in the world
• It has a hot and wet climate and is filled with dense vegetation
• It covers 40% South American continent
  -It’s home to 20 million people

Question 2

How much carbon does the Amazon emit and absorb?

Answer 2

• It holds 17% of the global terrestrial vegetation carbon stock
• Dead Amazonian trees emit 1.9 billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere every year
• The rainforest used to absorb 2.2 billion tons of CO2 yearly
• By 2015 this decreased to 1billion tons

Question 3

What effect has increased CO2 had on the Amazon?

Answer 3

• It has led to an increase in biomass due to the vegetation being able to photosynthesise more
• This makes it an even more important carbon store
• However the trees are growing quickly and dying younger

Question 4

Why are there high amounts of rainfall in the Amazon?

Answer 4

• There are high amounts of evaporation over the Atlantic Ocean and the moist air is blown over to the Amazon
• The warm temperatures in the Amazon increase evaporation and therefore precipitation

Question 5

How much rainfall is there in the Amazon yearly?

Answer 5

3000mm

Question 6

How does the water cycle affect the species in the Amazon?

Answer 6

• It’s populated with species that are adapted to high humidity and high levels of precipitation