the carbon and water cycle in the Amazon basin

Question 1

what is a flux tower?

Answer 1

they are used to measure the movement carbon dioxide from the biosphere to the atmosphere

Question 2

what do rainforests play a vital role in doing

Answer 2

acting as one of the biggest natural carbon storage systems

Question 3

what are the four main layers of the forest

Answer 3

• shrub layer
• lower tree canopy
• main canopy
• emergent

Question 4

what percentage of light reaches the ground floor of the rainforest

Answer 4

3%

Question 5

the amount of carbon taken out of the air is know as the

Answer 5

GPP (gross primary productivity)

Question 6

what percentage of human emitted carbon dioxide, do tropical rainforest absorb

Answer 6

25%

Question 7

how much carbon is taken in per hectare ( in the amazon rainforest)

Answer 7

200-300 tonnes

Question 8

what percentage of precipitation, is recycled in the
amazon rainforest

Answer 8

between 50% and 60%, precipitation is recycled by the process of evapotranspiration, meaning it is reused

Question 9

what are the evapotranspiration rates like in the amazon rainforest and why? what is the positive feedback loop here)

Answer 9

the rate of evapotranspiration, are high due to the large amount of rainfall, and tree cover, due to the high temperatures. More trees = more rainfall, leading to more evapotranspiration, less trees = less rainfall, leading to less evapotranspiration

Question 10

how much rain annually is their in the amazon rainforest

Answer 10

3000mm to 4000mm per year

Question 11

why do the rivers in the amazon, turn reddish brown after rain?

Answer 11

due to minerals (iron oxide)

Question 12

what happens if we remove the canopy

Answer 12

we decrease the amount of interception, which then means that there more water hitting the soil and washing away the organic matter, thus resulting in a increase in the amount of surfacer runoff

Question 13

know how to compare different factors, in a undisturbed rainforest and a disturbed rainforest

Answer 13

page 9

Question 14

explain why the trees are so important, in the Amazon carbon cycle

Answer 14

• absorbs around 24 billion tonnes per year of carbon
• stores 40 tonnes of carbon per hectare in roots, and 180 tonnes per hectare above ground
• less carbon, means less photosynthesis will occur

Question 15

explain the roles of photosynthesis and decomposition as part of the carbon cycle

Answer 15

• plants use carbon dioxide, and light to convert it to energy
• warm conditions, causes faster deposition of organic matter
• rapid decomposition, so carbon dioxide returns to the atmosphere
• when felled, tree stumps and logs decompose, due to the heat and humidity, thus meaning that carbon dioxide, is returned to the atmosphere quickly

Question 16

how does the geology of the amazon basin, affect the carbon stores?

Answer 16

• impermeable rock, have minimal carbon storage, resulting in reduced overall capacity,
• however permeable rocks, such as limestone, allows for more carbon to be stored,
• some rocks, store carbon (carbonates)
• drilling for oil, increases weathering thus returning more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere

Question 17

the amazon rainforest is one of the largest what

Answer 17

carbons sinks

Question 18

what makes a forest a primary forest

Answer 18

one that has been untouched (not deforested)

Question 19

how much carbon can a primary forest store per hectare

Answer 19

300 tonnes

Question 20

what percentage of the rainforest is cut down and replaced by grass land

Answer 20

80%

Question 21

how many tonnes of carbon per hectare can grassland store

Answer 21

16.2 tonnes

Question 22

how many tonnes of carbon per hectare can soya store

Answer 22

2.6 tonnes

Question 23

explain, how deforestation affects soil in the amazon

Answer 23

• leads to a reduction, in organic material in the soil
• thus reducing the flow of carbon from the soil to the atmosphere
• the strong sunlight, will lead to fewer decomposers, thus reducing the flow of carbon from the soil to the atmosphere
• this leads to an increase in soil erosion and leaching

Question 24

what is leaching

Answer 24

Leaching describes the “washing out” from soils any soluble chemicals that are not “bound” to the soil particles. It occurs as excess rain (or flood) waters drain through the soil.

Question 25

what is the difference between a carbon sink and a carbon source

Answer 25

A carbon source releases more carbon than it absorbs. A carbon sink is any reservoir that absorbs more carbon than it releases. A carbon store/stock maintains a constant amount of carbon.