Tropical Rainforest Flashcards
1
Q
What is a tropical rainforest?
A
- tall dense forest
- evergreen and some deciduous trees
- found in tropical areas
- most productive and diverse biome in the world
- mean NNP is 2500gm^2 yr^-1.
2
Q
Why are there rapid rates of decompostion?
A
High temperature meant that the soil organisms are active
3
Q
Why is there leaching of minerals from the soil?
A
Heavy precipitation washes out nutrients from the soil
4
Q
Why is bedrock weathered so quickly?
A
Warm, wet conditions lead to rapid rates of chemical weathering such as hydrolysis (on granite) and carbonation (on limestone)
5
Q
What are the outputs of water from the Amazon Rainforest?
A
- when it flows out into the Atlantic Ocean
- when it is lost to the atmosphere of other regions following ET
6
Q
Describe the loop recycling water in the Amazon Basin?
A
- 50% of rain is recycled by evapotranspiration
- high rates of interception due to dense canopy
- intercepted moisture evaporates
- tree roots taking in some moisture for the soul
- high et rates leads to cloud formation and high daily rainfall
- feedback loop then repeated
