The Amazon Rainforest- Carbon and Water

Question 1

Where is the Amazon Rainforest located?

Answer 1

The north of South America, takes up vast parts of Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia.
North of the Tropic of Capricorn, majority in the southern hemisphere.

Question 2

What is the ITCZ?

Answer 2

the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone- The point at which two Hadley cells (air masses) meet at the equator causing low air pressure and vast amounts of evaporation= LOTS AND LOTS OF RAIN.

Question 3

Processes within the Rainforests local water cycle?

Answer 3

Evaporation- 25% of ppt evaporates due to hot, humid temperatures.
Interception- 75% of -precipitation- is intercepted.
Evaporation from forest floor and drip-tip leaves.
Stem flow- the downward, vertical movement of water down vegetation.

Question 4

Impacts of decreased tropical rainforest? WATER CYCLE

Answer 4

A decrease in trees: decreased evapotranspiration = less cloud cover, ppt and decreased humidity (pve feedback)
Increased surface run off and exposure to the sun = soil stripped of nutrients and dried out.
Rainfall- slash and burn agriculture= increased density of air borne particles around which water vapour condenses= smaller water droplets and less ppt.
This means that any moisture that does eventually fall and evaporate from deforested areas forms shallow cumulous clouds.
Flooding- increased s.r.o = higher risk of flooding.

Question 5

What did a research done by Spraken et Al find regarding deforestation?

Answer 5

In 2012 it was concluded further deforestation in the Amazon could result in a 20% decline in regional rainfall due to decreased moisture of air.

Question 6

Impacts of decreased tropical rainforest? CARBON CYCLE

Answer 6

As rainforest is burnt for crops and agriculture, 50% of
stored carbon is immediately released + combustion.
A CARBON SINK- absorbs 2 billion tonnes and releases 1.9 due to decomposition, respiration of animals and deforestation.
Rainfall washes ashes into the soil, carbon runoff increases to local bodies of water.
PHOTOSYNTHEIS
DECOMPOSITION- bacteria and fungi thrive in moist, warm conditions.

Question 7

How much rainforest was illegally destroyed between July 2013 and July 2014?

Answer 7

4,800 km

Question 8

Reasons for illegal logging/ deforestation?

Answer 8

Agricultural expansion, cattle breeding, timber extraction, mining, oil extraction, dam construction and infrastructure development.

The BRAZILIAN FOREST CODE states that land owners have to keep 50- 85% of their land as forest

Question 9

Changes to rainforest: Temperature

Answer 9

Mean temperature increase of 0.25 every ten years.
By 2050 it is estimated the temp will have increased by 3 degrees Celsius. SYNOPTIC LINK- CC
Vegetation will not be able to adapt.

Question 10

Changes to rainforest: Rivers

Answer 10

Decreased river discharge can lead to an increase in silt content and decrease in oxygen content = suffocates inhabitants= destroyed ecosystems.

Can also- socially- lead to silt deposition that disrupts transport routes= shallower and certain boats can only access.
Flash flooding can lead to contamination of freshwater supplies for Amazonian people.

Question 11

Attempts to mitigate problems in Amazon- National and International Agreements?

Answer 11

TARAPOTO PROCESS- forest policy makers from from 8 countries of the Amazon Basin: eg: Brazil, Peru, Venezuela
-12 criteria to help manage sustainability.
(GLOBAL )- education
(NATIONAL)- share info, technology and resources across south America.

Question 12

Attempts to mitigate problems in Amazon- ACTO

Answer 12

Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation
- aimed at promoting sustainable development
-8 member countries of Amazon basin
-detect and stop illegal logging
“By using cutting-edge technology like satellite imagery, radar, drones, and camera traps through our MAAP Project and our Southwest Amazon Drone Centre, we are able to find, track, and expose deforestation”
-create and implement conservation corridors.

Question 13

Attempts to mitigate problems in Amazon- Local Policies

Answer 13

The creation of National Parks and Nature Reserves

• JALL NATIONAL PARK= 5.6 MILLION ACRES
• PARA rainforest reserve= creates a vast conservation corridor horizontally within the North of the rainforest.

Question 14

Attempts to mitigate problems in Amazon- Planting

Answer 14

Afforestation and Reforestation

• seedlings of native species can be grown in a local nursery and planted in dehydrated, lacking areas.
• the promotion of creating long lasting wood products = sustainable store of carbon.

Question 15

Attempts to mitigate problems in Amazon- “Agroforestry “

Answer 15

TREES+ CROPS
The combination of planted trees within annual crops eg: coffee.
Forest/ carbon stores are maintained, increased humidity and shelter
but- decrease in sunlight, can be hard to access- clearing of shrubs.

Question 16

Examples of links between water and carbon?

Answer 16

Infiltration and throughflow—– dependant on well formed soils caused by factors driving change in Car c
Photosynthesis——- coverts suns energy to chemical energy, dependant on water vapour (6C02 +6H20)
Decomposition——- takes place by detritivores which cannot operate without the presence of water stored in soils and groundwater to respire.
Precipitation——— carbon dissolved in precipitation and water molecules and carbon= carbonic acid.
Particles from the burring of trees increased density of air borne particles around which water vapour condenses——-smaller droplets = dec ppt.