Tropical rainforests Flashcards
How high do the trees grow
45m
where are tropical rainforests found
central and south America, central Africa, south eats Asia, northern Australia.
What is the climate like at a tropical rainforest
temp is high and constant, rainfall is high
Are tropical rainforests fertile
no, surprisingly infertile
Where are most nutrients found
at the surface of the soil, where dead leaves decompose rapidly in the hot and humid conditions.
What is rainfall carrying away nutrients called
leaching
What infertile red, iron-rich soil is left behind after leaching called
latosol
Where is Malaysia
country in south-east asia
What is logging
clear-felling, where all trees are chopped won in an area.
What requires logging
road building
How does energy development affect rainforests
Dams and reservoirs flood rainforests, leaving latosol and leaching. Dams supply energy to Malaysia.
Mineral extraction
Drilling for oil and gas
What is population pressure
increased demand for energy and roads with a growing population.
Commercial farming
Malaysia is the largest exporter of palm oil in the world.
Impacts of deforestation
soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, climate change.
Economic gains of deforestation
develop land for commercial farming, companies will pay taxes to the government to increase public services. minerals are very valuable, the hydro electric power will provide cheap, renewable electricity.
Economic losses of deforestation
Pollution of water sources, rising temperatures, fires
Why should rainforests be protected
medicine, biodiversity, climate change, water and resources.
Ways of managing rainforests
selective logging sand re-planting.
