Amazon Rainforest Flashcards
(30 cards)
How large is the Amazon Rainforest and how many countries does it span?
It covers 5.5 million km² across 9 countries.
What role does the Amazon play in global biodiversity and carbon storage?
It contains 300 billion trees, 15,000 species, and stores 1/5 of Earth’s carbon biomass.
How many plant, mammal, and fish species are found in the Amazon?
1 million plant species, over 500 mammal species, and over 2,000 fish species.
How much carbon does the Amazon store?
80–120 billion tonnes.
How much carbon does the Amazon absorb annually, and how has this changed?
1–3 GtC/year, but absorption has halved since the 1990s.
Why is the Amazon’s ability to store carbon declining?
CO₂ initially boosted growth, but trees now die younger, reducing storage capacity.
How much water does the Amazon River discharge into the Atlantic?
~175,000 m³/s (15% of global freshwater).
How much rainfall does the Amazon receive annually?
About 2,300 mm, with some areas getting over 6,000 mm.
What percentage of rainfall is intercepted and re-evaporated by the canopy?
~50%.
What percentage of evapotranspired water returns as rainfall?
48%.
How much Amazon forest was lost per year between 2000–2007?
19,368 km²/year.
What percentage of Brazil’s greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation?
75%, with 59% from the Amazon.
What are the impacts of slash-and-burn agriculture?
Reduced soil moisture, increased erosion, higher albedo and temperature, and less rainfall.
How do pastures compare to rainforests in terms of temperature and moisture?
Pastures are 8.9°C warmer and hold 15% less soil moisture.
How much has temperature increased in the Amazon since the 1970s?
0.26°C per decade.
What forest loss is projected with +2°C warming?
20–40% over 100 years.
What is the expected forest loss with +4°C warming?
Up to 85%.
How much forest was lost annually from 2000–2010?
3.6 million hectares/year.
What contributes to rising tree mortality in the Amazon?
Increased temperature, drought, and seasonality.
How much carbon do rainforest vs. pasture soils store?
Rainforest: 4–9 kg/m²; Pasture: ~1 kg/m².
How much carbon can be lost to the atmosphere after deforestation?
30–60%.
What happens to soil quality after deforestation?
Soil organisms die, recycling drops, and topsoil is washed away
How does deforestation affect Amazon river systems?
Reduces discharge, increases silt and flash flooding, and decreases freshwater supply.
What are the effects of warmer river water?
Harms temperature-sensitive species, reduces oxygen levels, and affects aquatic life.
