tropical rainforest and the water and carbon cycle

Question 1

where are tropical rainforests found

Answer 1

equator
belt between central and South America, south east Asia and the top of Australia

Question 2

how many people liven tropical rainforests

Answer 2

200 million people

Question 3

what is the annual rainfall and temperature

Answer 3

2000mm 27 degree C all year

Question 4

precipitation is very high how much rainfall does TRF receive a year

Answer 4

2000mm per year

Question 5

why is rainfall so high in TRF

Answer 5

high humidity and unstable weather conditions

Question 6

what happens to rain when in enter the TRF

Answer 6

75% of precipitation in intercepted by tree canopy

some will flow down plants and trees as stem flow

25% of rainfall evaporates

Question 7

main impacts of deforestation on the water cycle

Answer 7

• runoff rates will increase which will increase flood risk.
• soil exposed to sun will become dry and erode
• evaporation reduces because water will sock into the soil making the atmosphere less humid
• more overland flow because more rain will reach the ground immediately.

-few trees means less interception which means less evaporation of leaves.

Question 8

how are rainfall patterns changing from deforestation

Answer 8

rainforests allow water to return to the atmosphere by evapotranspiration

when forests are removed evapotranspiration reduces

reduces atmospheric humidity and rainfall

Question 9

how does changes in the water cycle increase wildfires

Answer 9

dry soils and vegetation are prone to wildfires

Question 10

what is the climate associated with tropical rainforests

Answer 10

hot all year round
high rainfall all year round
rich vegetation

Question 11

what deforestation

Answer 11

removal of trees

Question 12

examples causing degradation and deforestation

Answer 12

crops for pasture

urbanisation

building infrastructure - roads

Question 13

interception in disturbed and undisturbed rainforests

Answer 13

undisturbed - in dense rainforest a portion of rainfall is intercepted by trees and then most of this water is evaporated

disturbed - much less water is intercepted - more rainfall reaches the ground

Question 14

infiltration in disturbed and undisturbed rainforests

Answer 14

undisturbed - ground of the surface is covered in litter layer formed by fallen leaves. water soaks into the ground - little overland flow

disturbed - less trees means less vegetation litter on the ground floor . less easy for water to infiltrate which means more overland flow

Question 15

evapotranspiration in disturbed and undisturbed rainforests

Answer 15

undisturbed -most of the water in the soil is taken up by vegetation and then evapotranspiration returns it to the atmosphere as water vapour

disturbed - is rainforests have been replaces by crops. roots will take water from the soil but at a much slower pace. reducing evapotranspiration.

Question 16

atmospheric moisture in disturbed and undisturbed rainforests

Answer 16

undisturbed - evaporated water enters the atmosphere as vapour. this keeps conditions humid

disturbed - much less water vapour being returned the the atmosphere. this reduces humidity

Question 17

rainfall in disturbed and undisturbed rainforests

Answer 17

undisturbed - rainfall tends to be high and frequent and intense

disturbed - reduction in rainfall , less water vapour in the air to condense into raindrops

Question 18

where is carbon stored in a rainforest

Answer 18

wood is 50% carbon (trees)

some carbon is stored in the soil

Question 19

how is carbon transferred within a rainforest

Answer 19

respiration

decomposition

photosynthesis

Question 20

how will the change of tropical rainforest to grassland impact the carbon cycle

Answer 20

rainforests absorb much more carbon than grassland. more carbon is stored in rainforests

Question 21

what are the main impacts of land use change and deforestation on the carbon cycle

Answer 21

1. photosynthesis ceases until new plants grow - most significant impact on the carbon cycle
2. plant and animal respiration drops to almost 0
3. carbon that was stored in the wood is released into the atmosphere

Question 22

background to Indonesias tropical rainforest deforestation

Answer 22

most biologically and culturally diverse landscapes

in the 1960s, 80% of Indonesia was rainforest - demand for paper pulp and plywood has led to deforestation

Question 23

Indonesia has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world . how many acres are cleared a year and what does it mean for the environment

Answer 23

2.4 million hectares cleared a year

exposed land means peatland are eroded by wind , rain. high release of c02 into the atmosphere

Question 24

forest fires In Indonesia and its impact

Answer 24

burning is a quick way to clear trees

smoke released into the atmosphere - huge amounts of c02

Question 25

what is palm oil

Answer 25

common product found in processed food and cosmetics

Question 26

where are palm oil trees planted and why

Answer 26

south East Asian countries indonesia Malaysia

Question 27

why is soil drained for palm oil trees and impacts

Answer 27

peat and water logged conditions are not suitable for palm oil to grow. soils are drained decomposing releases carbon stored in the soil into the atmosphere

Question 28

how can tropical rainforests be managed more sustainably

Answer 28

selective logging ecotourism conservation and education international agreements and debt reduction

Question 29

summarise Costa Rica and ecotourism

Answer 29

- costa rica is the first country to stopped and reversed deforestation CostaRican government made it illegal to chop down forests their respect for nature payed a vital role 3 million tourists a year PES - payment to farmers to protect their environments

Question 30

summarise selective logging as a way for rainforests to be managed more sustainably

Answer 30

deforestation which is damaging is all trees all sizes being chopped down - destroys ecosystem selective logging - more sustainable . equipment is used to remove selected trees however the machinery often damages surrounding trees and ecosystems

Question 31

summarise conservation and education as a way which rainforests can be managed more sustainably

Answer 31

TRF can be reserved in conservation areas these areas are used for education , scientific research and tourism Costa Rica has preserved 28% of its land in national parks

Question 32

what is costa the first country to do

Answer 32

stopped deforestation make it illegal to cut down trees stop and reverse deforestation