Water and carbon cycle in the Amazon Rainforest Flashcards
Area of the Amazon Rainforest
6 000 000 km2
percentage of amazon rainforest which is in Brazil
70%
number of countries which are part of the rainforest
7
width of the mouth of the amazon
300 miles
volume of sediment deposited by the amazon river
106 million cubic feet per day
what is the ITCZ
intertropical convergence zone
area with highest insolation and therefore evaporation
where is the ITCZ
ITCZ over Amazon in Jan
more evap and therforefore convectional rain
seasonal temperature fluctuations in the amazon
minimal fluctuation
average 27.4 C
peak in August
seasonal rainfall fluctuation in the amazon
dramatic seasonal variation
250mm range
summer is driest
spring is wettest
annual rainfall 2145mm monthly avergae
role of an individual tee in the water cycle
interception
water from roots (geo-> bio)
transpiration
photosynthesis and respiration
changing soil structure
infiltration and percolation
role of an individual tree in the carbon cycle
death -> adds to biomass C in soil -> decomposers respire and release CO2
leaf litter (bio to geo)
CO2 in resp and photosynthesis
carbon sequestration
combustion inc CO2
deforestation inc CO2
Interception in the amazon
Very high due to dense foliage
10% rainfall intercepted
20-25% evaporation comes from intercepted rainfall
Evapotranspiration in the amazon
High rates of evapotranspiration due to high temperatures
This causes high humidity and abundant veg
Evapotranspiration- rainfall feedback loop (50-60% of the rainfall totals are returned to the atmosphere by evapotranspiration)
Channel flow in the amazon
Highest discharge of any river in the world
Responsible for 20% of label freshwater discharge into oceans
Run off from tributary sub-basins varies according to annual pattern of rainfall
Stem flow
The flow of intercepted water down the stem or trunk of a plant
