amazon forest case study

Question 1

what % of carbon emissions are a result of deforestation?

Answer 1

20%

Question 2

what % of the earth does the rainforest cover - and what% of photosynthesis does it account for?

Answer 2

1. covers 6% of the earth
2. accounts for 30-50% of photosynthesis

Question 3

name 3 countries the rainforest covers

Answer 3

1. brazil
2. peru
3. columbia

Question 4

how many trees are there? how much of the earths carbon in biomass?

Answer 4

1. 300 billion
2. 1/5

Question 5

what is the ITCZ?

Answer 5

the intertropical convergence zone - where 2 hadley cells meet

low air pressure, high evapotranspiration

Question 6

give 3 climate features

Answer 6

1. 3000mm of rain a year
2. average temp of 28 degrees
3. high humidity (75% intercepted by trees)

Question 7

give 5 drivers of change in the rainforest

Answer 7

1. climate change
2. deforestation
3. urbanisation
4. cattle ranching - reduced evapotransipration - soil erosion
5. pollution - particulates in clouds reduces light

Question 8

how much of the rainforest has been lost in the last 50 years?

Answer 8

17%

80% as a result of cattle ranching

Question 9

give 3 impacts of deforestation on rain

Answer 9

1. particles resulting from burning increase air born aerosols, causing smaller raindrops as vapour cannot merge (less rain)
2. less cloud cover as condensation nuclei emmitted from forests isnt released
3. less evapotranspiration = less rain (positive feedback)

Question 10

give 3 impacts of deforestation on flooding

Answer 10

1. increased run off increases chances of flooding
2. reduced soil porosity (less infiltration)
3. soil erosion builds up river silt(sediment), reducing drainage

Question 11

give 2 non human impacts on tropical forests

Answer 11

1. seasonal variation
2. glacial periods

Question 12

how many tonnes of co2 do rainforests absorb every year?

Answer 12

1.5 billion

Question 13

how much of stored carbon in vegetation is immediately released from burning?

Answer 13

50%

Question 14

how much co2 did the amazon absorb in 1990 vs 2015?

Answer 14

1990 - 2 billion tonnes
2015 - 1 billion tonnes

Question 15

how much carbon is stored in the amazon rainforest?

Answer 15

80-120 billion tonnes

Question 16

give 3 impacts of deforestation in the carbon cycle

Answer 16

1. reduced photosynthesis
2. reduced respiration
3. higher soil carbon content as rain washes ash into ground

Question 17

give an example of a negative feedback loop in a rainforest

Answer 17

1. increased temp - higher cloud cover (evapotranspiration) - solar rays blocked

Question 20

give 2 types of local management schemes

Answer 20

1. ecotoursim - gives value to the rainforest
2. education

Question 21

give 2 examples of international schemes

Answer 21

1. The tropical forest alliance - est 2020 to reduce deforestation around the world through cooperation
2. debt for nature - countries agree to only buy goods from sustainable sources to reduce corruption

Question 22

give 3 drawbacks of the schemes used

Answer 22

1. sustainable foresting reduces the volume of jobs
2. ecotourism can be too expensive for some people
3. lack of punishment reduces incentive to follow rules