Amazon Rainforest Case Study Flashcards
(18 cards)
How large is the Amazon Rainforest?
More than 6 million square kilometres.
What is the average annual temperature and rainfall in the Amazon rainforest?
25-30 degrees celsius and 2000mm of rainfall.
How much precipitation is recycled by evapotranspiration in the Amazon rainforest?
50-60%.
How much rainfall do trees in the Amazon rainforest intercept, and what percentage of evaporation does this make up?
10% is intercepted, which makes up 20-25% of evaporation.
What two key characteristics does rainfall in the Amazon rainforest have?
- Convectional (stays in one place) rainfall.
- High-intensity.
What is the NPP in the Amazon rainforest?
2500g of carbon per square meter per year.
What is the biomass per hectare of the Amazon rainforest?
400-700 tonnes per hectare.
How much biomass per hectare does the soil in the Amazon rainforest store?
90-200 tonnes per hectare
How much biomass per hectare do large trees in the Amazon rainforest store?
220 tonnes per hectare, 180 above the ground and 40 in the roots.
How much carbon does the Amazon rainforest store per year?
2.4 billion tonnes.
What two processes are sped up by the warm humid conditions of the Amazon rainforest?
Decomposition and photosynthesis.
What was the average deforestation per year between 1970 and 2013?
17,500 square kilometres a year.
How much of the Amazon rainforest’s primary forest has been destroyed or degraded?
Nearly a fifth.
In what three ways does deforestation of the Amazon rainforest affect carbon stores?
- Carbon stores are greatly reduced as grasslands and pastures hold significantly less carbon.
- Decomposers are exposed to strong sunlight, reducing flows of carbon from the soil to the atmosphere.
- Trees burnt release large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere.
In what three ways does deforestation of the Amazon rainforest affect water stores?
- The water storage of trees, soils and permeable rocks are lowered due to increased soil erosion.
- Evapotranspiration and precipitation are reduced due to fewer trees, but run-off becomes much faster.
- The local water cycle that sustains the high humidity is broken, potentially leading to a permanent change of climate.
In what three ways can the Amazon rainforest be managed?
- Protecting primary forest through legislation.
- Reforesting degraded or destroyed areas.
- Improving agricultural techniques to make it sustainable.
How much rainforest does Brazil aim to restore by 2030?
120,000 square kilometres.
How much of the Amazon rainforest has been part of a national park, wildlife reserve or indigenous reserve since 2015?
44%.
