Tropical rainforest - Water cycle

Question 1

Precipitation

Answer 1

High intensity convectional rainfall
2700 mm a year
Always rainy season

Question 2

Evapotranspiration

Answer 2

Very high rates of evapotranspiration
Causes feedback loop with precipitation, causing consistent convectional rainfall
50% of rainfall returned via evapotranspiration

Question 3

Runoff

Answer 3

Runoff dependant on rainfall levels / geology / soil storage / relief
Depending on season, runoff can peak river discharge for 1 - 2 months

Question 4

Atmosphere

Answer 4

High temperatures allow for the atmosphere to have a high absolute humidity, as well as relative humidity.

Question 5

Soil

Answer 5

Deep latisol soil allows for large soil storage amounts

Large aquifers in ground storage also

Question 6

Physical factors affecting flooding in rainforest

Answer 6

Geology
Relief
Temperature

Question 7

Geology.

Answer 7

Majority of rainforest is crystalline impermeable rock, which allows for runoff / little ground storage.

Question 8

Relief (steepness)

Answer 8

Most of Amazon is lowland.
Areas of gentle relief allow for throughflow + groundwater flow
Areas of steep relief cause rapid runoff

Question 8

Relief (steepness)

Answer 8

Most of Amazon is lowland.
Areas of gentle relief allow for throughflow + groundwater flow
Areas of steep relief cause rapid runoff

Question 9

Temperature

Answer 9

High water cycle output levels due to temp = High rainfall.

Question 10

Human impacts affecting flooding

Answer 10

Deforestation - cause of the 2014 Madeira floods - killed 60 people.
This was due to decreased levels of vegetation storage + runoff.

Question 11

Interception

Answer 11

10% of precipitation intercepted by trees

intercepted rainfall accounts for 25% of all evaporation