Tipping Point

Question 1

`What is supporting evidence for the Amazon becoming a sink?

Answer 1

2005/10 droughts, losing 270 MT/CO2e/yr between 01-21, with declining ecosystem productivity.

Question 2

What are the two Amazon feedbacks?

Answer 2

Localises fire amplif droughts, reduced evapotranspiration reduces westward water transport, reducing forest viability/rainfall.

Question 3

What is Amazon dieback linked to?

Answer 3

Pronounced drying in tropical South America and weak CO2 fertilization effect.

Question 4

When is Dieback likely to occur?

Answer 4

3-4C and 40% forest cover loss

Question 5

What regulates SAM?

Answer 5

Atlantic Ocean Moisutre Inflow, Andes blocking low level winds forming low-level jets to subtropics.

Question 6

Why does SAM have enhanced winds/precipitation?

Answer 6

SA precipitation strengthens heating gradient above Atlantic ocean through latent heat release, enhancing easterly flow by 2-3 during monsoon seasons.

Question 7

What are implications of SAM on wider deforestation?

Answer 7

Cascades due to lower moisture, 70% of precipitation in La Plata originate from ET from Amazon

Question 8

When does SAMS develop?

Answer 8

Austral spring by Caribbean and NW SA intense convection

Question 9

Critical Slowing Down

Answer 9

Currently occupied equilibrium states becoming less stable and responding more sluggishly to short-term perturbations.

Question 10

Lag-1 Autocorrelation

Answer 10

This is correlation between two different data points in a time series

Question 11

When does CSD occur?

Answer 11

When forcing in slower than intrinsic response time scales.

Question 12

How large is the Amazon river?

Answer 12

Largest in the world, twice volume of second largest, rivers/tributaries twice size of US.