AMAZON RAINFOREST

Question 1

LOCATION

Answer 1

• In South America
• occupies area of more than 6 million km2
• 70% of rainforest in BRAZIL, but also extends into parts of Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Guyana
• Amazonia is world’s largest rainforest
• Dominated by tall, evergreen, hardwood trees

Question 2

WATER CYCLE: CLIMATE/CLIMATIC FEATURES

Answer 2

• high average annual temperatures between 25 °C + 30°C
• small seasonal variation in temperature
• high average annual rainfall (>2000 mm) with no dry season

Question 3

High average temperatures are response to…

Answer 3

intense insolation throughout year
~ But, significant cloud cover ensures maximum temperatures do not reach extremes of subtropical desert climates.

Question 4

Seasonal differences in temperature are…

Answer 4

small + convectional rain falls all year round, though most areas experience at least 1 drier period.

Question 5

How much precipitation recycled by evapotranspiration in Amazonia

Answer 5

• Between 50 + 60%

Question 6

Water losses from Amazon Basin result from

Answer 6

river flow + export of atmospheric vapour to other regions.
~ this loss made good by inward flux of moisture from Atlantic ocean

Question 7

Water cycle in Amazon rainforest flows + stores

Answer 7

Precipitation
Evapotranspiration
Run-off
Atmosphere
Soil/groundwater
Vegetation

Question 8

1. Precipitation

Answer 8

High average annual rainfall (>2000 mm)
Rainfall fairly evenly distributed throughout year though short drier season occurs in some places.
High-intensity, convectional rainfall
Interception by forest trees is high (around 10% of precipitation). Intercepted rainfall accounts for 20-25% of all evaporation

Question 9

2. Evapotranspiration

Answer 9

• High rates of evaporation + transpiration due to high temperatures, abundant moisture + dense vegetation
• Strong evapotranspiration-precipitation feedback loops sustain high rainfall totals
• Around half of incoming rainfall returned to atmosphere by evapotranspiration
• Most evaporation from intercepted moisture from leaf surfaces
• Moisture lost in transpiration is derived from soil via tree roots

Question 10

Run-off

Answer 10

Rapid run-off related to high rainfall, intensive rainfall events and well-drained soils. Depending on seasonal distribution of rainfall, river discharge may peak in one or two months of the year.