Amazon Flashcards
(25 cards)
What percentage of rain that falls in the Amazon is returned to the atmosphere by evapotranspiration?
About 50%
This process involves evaporation from soil and transpiration from plants.
What is the Amazon drainage basin classified as?
An open system
Water descends into the Atlantic Ocean and vaporizes back into the atmosphere.
What is the average annual rainfall in the Amazon?
2500 mm/year
This rainfall supports the dense rainforest ecosystem.
What percentage of carbon is stored above ground in the Amazon rainforest?
60%
The remaining 40% is stored in the soil.
How much carbon is released by decomposition and respiration in the Amazon rainforest each year?
1.4 Gt/year
This contributes to the carbon cycle in the region.
What is the rate of carbon uptake through photosynthesis in the Amazon rainforest?
2.40x/year
This indicates a significant rate of carbon fixation.
What are the main components of nutrient cycling in the Amazon?
Flows and Stores
Includes precipitation, evapotranspiration, and run-off.
Fill in the blank: The Amazon rainforest accounts for ____% of global evapotranspiration.
20-25%
This highlights its importance in the global water cycle.
What is the characteristic rainfall distribution in the Amazon?
High annual rainfall (>2000 mm), evenly distributed
Some places may have a short drier season.
What role do rainforest trees play in the water cycle?
They extract water from the soil and release it through transpiration
This process helps maintain humidity levels.
True or False: The Amazon rainforest has high relative humidity.
True
This is essential for sustaining the rainforest ecosystem.
What contributes to significant water storage in tropical soils?
Abundant rainfall and deep tropical soils
These features allow for the formation of substantial aquifers.
How does the water cycle interact with the carbon cycle in the Amazon?
They are interdependent
Water availability affects carbon uptake and storage in vegetation.
What is the Belo Monte dam?
A hydroelectric power project on the Xing River, upstream of the Keg Bene.
Belo Monte is one of the largest hydroelectric plants in Brazil. 5km wide
What is the area of submergence for the Belo Monte project?
480 km².
This area is submerged due to the creation of the reservoir for the hydroelectric power station.
What is the estimated expansion range for Altamira?
100,000 - 150,000.
This refers to the potential population increase or area affected by the project.
What environmental impact does the project have on vegetation?
Converts vegetation to cleared land.
This transformation affects local ecosystems and biodiversity.
What happens to fish breeding grounds due to the Belo Monte project?
Fish breeding grounds disappear.
The alteration of water flow and habitat disrupts fish populations.
How does the Belo Monte project affect Altamira’s climate?
It causes temperature increases even in the dry season.
This may lead to changes in local weather patterns.
What management practice is emphasized in the context of Belo Monte?
Improving agricultural practices.
This is likely aimed at mitigating some negative impacts on local communities.
Agroforestry
Integrates more economic plants eg bananas without using slash and burn
Protected areas
17,000km2 Manu international park- 3 grades
1- national park- indigenous tribes only, free animals
2- scientific research only
3- ecotourism, small logging, villiage
Deforestation and Cattle ranching?
80% of deforestation due to this
how much deforested a year?
10,000km2
