The Amazon Flashcards
(25 cards)
how big is the amazon ?
6.7 million km2
how much of the amazon has been lost over the past 50 years ?
17%
how much carbon is contained ?
100 billion metric tonnes
what is the inter-tropical convergence zone ?
a band of low pressure between the tropics where the two Hadley cells meet
where do rainforests form ?
the inter-tropical convergence zone
average temperature ?
27*C
how much rainfall yearly ?
3000mm
how long is the growing season ?
365 days a year
what % of living things does it contain ?
20%
how many trees ?
300 million
what percentage of the earths biomass is stored here ?
20%
deforestation impact on albedo…
deforestation, less evapotranspiration, less cloud cover, less albedo, less reflection of suns radiation, increased warming
what % of rain evaporates ?
25% of all rain
geology ?
largely impermeable rock, minimal water storage capacity, increased run off
relief ?
mostly low lands, slows the movement of water to rivers, meaning higher evaporation rates,
temperature ?
high temperatures means high evapotranspiration levels, largely cumulonimbus clouds, high humidity, intense rainfall
how much rain gets to the forest floor ?
1/3
how much has rainfall decreased by ?
20-30%
what is a significant factor contributing to deforestation ?
soy production, in 2006 a soy moratorium was introduced to stop the sale of deforested beans
decomposition ?
very high due to warm wet conditions for bacteria and fungi to thrive, releases C02
why are laws hard to implement ?
because the TRF spans multiple countries
when burning for land clearance what percentage of carbon stored is immediately released per tree ?
30-60%
TNC’s in the amazon
-hard to argue environment with profit driven corporations
-imbalances in power (indigenous vs gov)
- top down vs bottom up
reasons for clearing…
-farming, housing, roads (Trans-amazonian highway)
-exploiting resources to aid development in LIC countries, large profits can be made from mining
-employment in logging, cattle and mining
