Tropical Rainforests (2)

Question 0

Typical features of rain forests

Answer 0

Vegetation is dense and lush growing in the hot, wet weather
2000 mm of rain and 26degrees Celsius all year round
Cover 6million sq km (7%) of the earths surface
60% of the earths rain forests are found in brazil

Question 1

Where is the rainforest

Answer 1

Between the tropical of cancer and Capricorn around the equator

Question 2

What is the rainforest like

Answer 2

Trees have shallow roots where nutrients are, nutrients are then held in trees
Home to at least half the worlds’s population of birds
6 out of 10 species of animals are found in the tropical rain forests
Used for the source of medical treatments, cures have been found from plants

Question 3

Emergent layer

Answer 3

Single tall trees which fight above the canopy to get sunlight

Question 4

Forest floor

Answer 4

Dark

Very little sunlight pierces layers of vegetation

Question 5

Uses of the rainforest (destructive)

Answer 5

Mining for copper and iron ore
Ranching and estate farming
Timber for rare, single species (mahogany)
Timber for larger scale, more widespread uses
Resettlement schemes

Question 6

Uses of the forest non invasive

Answer 6

Medical uses - 121 drugs being sold worldwide which have been founded from plants from the rain forests
Farming and gathering native crops
Rubber tapping
Eco tourism

Question 7

Economic pressures of brazil

Answer 7

Oil prices rose, Brazil’s import bill rose
Brazil then borrowed money from oil rich countries
Export profits have been used to pay off debts
Prices for Brazil’s exports fell

Question 8

What effects of clearance

Answer 8

Interference in the hydrological cycle
Interference in the nutrient cycle
Effects on people
Greenhouse effect

Question 9

the hydrological cycle

Answer 9

Winds blow east
Evaporation occurs from the sea and rises temperatures
Trees intercept the rainwater and use the nutrients to grow, little of these are exerted into the ground
Most water is evapotranspirated back into atmosphere
Cycle is balanced

Question 10

Interference in the hydrological cycle

Answer 10

Interrupt the cycle as clouds move inland
More water will be lost to the groundwater system
Will increase soil erosion by rain splash and rain wash process
Not be taken up by vegetation and evapotranspirated back into the atmosphere
Clouds formed would then be smaller or nonexistent
It is drier and there is less rainfall
Could mean of a reduction of rainforest further inland

Question 11

Interference in nutrient cycle

Answer 11

Nutrients taken up by tree roots 
If there are no trees, no leaves fall to the ground and the soil quality is even poorer 
More soil is eroded 
Extra sediment can block dams 
Causes river to flood and overflow

Question 12

Effects on people

Answer 12

Tribal groups have lost land and migrated
Believe that no one can “own” the forest and it is only theirs to look after
Some campaign acts have been attacked and some people murdered

Question 13

Greenhouse effect

Answer 13

Trees absorb CO2 from atmosphere and produce oxygen
If trees reduced, less oxygen and more CO2 in the atmosphere
Linked to greenhouse effect as temperatures rise
Polar ice caps melt and sea levels rise
Also increased by burning fossil fuels

Question 14

Greenhouse effect with normal CO2

Answer 14

Heat earths surface
Heat given off heats atmosphere
Energy is reflected by earth as long wave energy

Question 15

Greenhouse effect increased CO2

Answer 15

Heated by incoming energy as normal
More reflected energy is absorbed due to increased CO2
Atmosphere warms up
Less energy is reflected by the earth

Question 16

Strategies for the future

Answer 16

Action of pressure groups 
Boycotting
Buying tracts of forest 
Encouraging non invasive organisations 
Encouraging controlled wealth creating projects
Encouraging worldwide use of softwoods
Write off Brazil's debt
Timber tax
Selective ring forestry 
Creation of world rainforest parks

Question 17

Action of pressure groups

Answer 17

Campaign to raise awareness and educate all countries in the effects

Question 18

Boycotting

Answer 18

Timber users are encouraged to buy from sustainable sources

Question 19

Buying tracts of forest

Answer 19

Suggesting a person can own an area of the rainforest, however clashes with native beliefs

Question 20

Encouraging non invasive organisations

Answer 20

Eco tourism

Medical research

Question 21

Encouraging controlled wealth creating projects

Answer 21

Responsible mining

Less damage at maximum profit

Question 22

Encouraging the worldwide use of soft woods

Answer 22

Grow more quickly

Some ones mature in 20 years rather than hardwoods which may take 200 years

Question 23

Write of Brazil’s tax

Answer 23

Reduction of the pressure to pay off loans

Brazil has paid off debts but due to interest has not met the final price as it keeps rising

Question 24

Timber tax

Answer 24

On all timber cut from tropical sources

Quotas on the number of trees which can be removed from a particular area

Question 25

Selective ring forestry

Answer 25

Small scale clearance, in rings so majority of space is left untouched

Question 26

Creation of world national parks

Answer 26

No country or company can operate without international agreement