Water and Carbon Case Study - Amazon Rainforest

Question 1

Carbon

Answer 1

▪️the Amazon is estimated to store between 80 and 120 billion tonnes of carbon
▪️study in 2015 has revealed that the Amazon Rainforest is losing its capacity to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere
▪️For the Amazon basin, an increase in atmospheric CO2 led to a growth spurt for the Amazon’s trees
↘️ However, the growth stimulation feeds through the system, causing trees to live faster, so die younger

Question 2

Water

Answer 2

▪️The average discharge of water into the Atlantic Ocean by the Amazon is around 15% of the fresh water entering the oceans each day
▪️Average rainfall across the whole Amazon basin is approximately 2300mm annually
↘️ up to half of this rainfall may never reach the ground

Question 3

Drivers of change

Answer 3

▪️Brazil is the Worlds 4th largest climate polluter
↘️ 50% of this is from loss of forest and burning in the Amazon

▪️If destroyed, the vast carbon store will be released into the atmosphere
▪️Moisture that evaporates from deforested areas form shallow cumulus clouds - usually don’t produce rain

Question 4

Climate change

Answer 4

▪️Amazon experienced falling amounts of rainfall between 1920s - 1970s
▪️Mean temperature increase of 0.26°c every 10 years since 1970s
▪️More frequent and increased extremes in temperature

Question 5

Vegetation change

Answer 5

▪️Massive net loss of forests in the Amazon Basin
▪️Droughts and high temperatures ➡️ kill trees ➡️ morality INCREASES

Question 6

Soil change

Answer 6

▪️Amazonian soils contain 4 to 9kg of carbon in the upper 50cm of the soil layer
▪️Forest clearance exposes the soil to heavy rainfall, most of the soils are washed into the rivers

Question 7

Rivers

Answer 7

▪️Destroy freshwater ecosystems - this could remove a source of protein and income to local inhabitants
▪️Destroy water supply which fulfills the needs of Amazonian people
▪️Lead to an overall reduction in river discharge