Water and Carbon - Case Studies Flashcards
Local Case Study the River Exe?
- Flows for 83km from the source in Exmoor through Exeter to Exmouth
- Highest point is 514m on Exmoor
Recent Developments: - In 1979 the river Haddeo (tributary) was dammed to create the Wimbleball Reservoir which now supplies water to Exeter
- The 2010 Exmoor Mires Project aimed to restore 2000he of Exmoor to its natural condition of wetland by blocking drainage ditches.
- Benefits = increased biodiversity, more carbon storage, better water quality due to less sediment in water. By 2013 over 1,000ha of peatland had been restored and 100km of ditches blocked.
Distant Case Study the Amazon Rainforest
- Covers 40% of south Americas land mass, home to 1 million plant species, over 500 mammal species and 2000 fish species
- A 4°c increase could kill the rainforest
- Water cycle – close to the equator so the heat causes evaporation causing more rainfall and humidity. Species are adapted to high temperatures and frequent precipitation. Vegetation intercepts 58% of precipitation
- Carbon cycle – high volumes of vegetation cause high volume of photosynthesis and carbon storage/ uptake.
Deforestation as a main threat impacting on:
- Water cycle – lower interception rates causing more flooding, reduces evapotranspiration rates so less moisture in the atmosphere causing less precipitation damaging ecosystem.
- Carbon cycle – less vegetation to store carbon causing more to be stored in the atmosphere, natural habitats for wildlife being destroyed.
- By 2030 the WWF say 27% of forest will be lost at the current rate of deforestation.
Attempts to limit human impacts:
- Aforestation, schemes are being put in place to plant more trees
- Selective logging, even though this is a problem the demand for raw materials is still high so compromises like only logging from certain areas in occurring.
- National parks such as the Yasuni National Park in Ecudor help to protect wildlife and the environment from damaging activities.
