Water and Carbon cycles CS (amazon rainforest) Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Water and Carbon cycles CS (amazon rainforest) Deck (28)
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1
Q

how much annual rainfall does the amazon get?

A

2000+mm

2
Q

what is the temp of the amazon throughout?

A

27

3
Q

how many people and species is the amazon home to?

A

200 million people

1/2 world species of plants/animals

4
Q

what is the max hight of trees in the amazon?

A

45m

5
Q

what % of oxygen does the amazon emit?

A

28%

6
Q

how many trees are in the amazon?

A

390 bn

7
Q

what are the 8 countries the amazon is spread across?

A
  • Brazil
  • bolivia
  • peru
  • ecudor
  • columbia
  • venezula
  • suriname
  • French Guiana
8
Q

how many tonnes of carbon are stored in the amazon?

A

80-120 bn tonnes

9
Q

how much carbon does the amazon take in ?

A

1-3 GTC/yr

10
Q

what % increase has there been in above ground biomass and what does this lead too?

A

0.3-0.5%= rising productivity due to sequestering of increased co2 concentrations in atmosphere

11
Q

what has cause rising atmospheric levels of CO2?

A

neg feedback

12
Q

what has happened and continues to be an issue since 2015?

A

loosing capacity to absorb co2, form peak of 2bn tonnes of CO2 in 1990s- now 1/2 that

13
Q

an increase in atmospheric co2 has led to what?

A

a growth spurt in tress, yet the growth stimulation leads to trees living faster and die younger. ^ rate of dying trees

14
Q

what is the av discharge of water into Atlantic by the amazon?

A

175,000 m/s

15
Q

what is the name of the 2nd largest river in the world that is a tributary of the amazon?

A

Rio negro

-100M deep & 14Km wide

16
Q

what can the rainfall go up to?

A

6,000mm

17
Q

why doesn’t rain water always reach ground?

A

1/2 is intercepted by canopy and re-evaporates

18
Q

of the rainfall that evaporated back into atmosphere what % falls again as rain, what % reaches the sea, what happens to the rest?

A

45% falls again
30% reaches sea
rest stuck in constant closed loop

19
Q

driefyly explain water system in amazon?

A
  • water lost by transpiration from pores In leaves
  • dense canopy intercepts rainfall, prevent hitting ground
  • rainwater transferred to forest floor by drip/stem flow.
  • most plants have shallow roots hat take rainwater and dissolved nutrients directly from decomposing leaf litter
20
Q

what are 3 drivers of change in the amazon ?

A
  • 2000-2007 deforested at rate of 19,000 km^2 yearly
  • Brazil 4th largest climate pollster, 75% of GHGE attributed to deforesting and land use change
  • removal of forest using slash and burn
21
Q

what are the 4 main difference between trop rainforest and pasture land?

A
  • RF aborb 11% more solar rad
  • av temp RF= 24.1, P= 33%
  • temp of amazons soils at 20cm <2.8oc, P= 8 oc
  • deeper forest roots pump more soil moisture to surface= 30%, more air humidity= 5-20%, more rainfall than pastures
22
Q

what are the 3 main impacts climate change is having on RF?

A
  • all trop RF temp increase of 0.26+- 0.05 degrees every 10 yrs since 1970s
  • by 2050= 2-3oc
  • was change in rainfall between 1920-70s no change now
23
Q

what are 3 main vegetation changes?

A
  • 2000-10 3.6 mill ha loss of forest
  • droughts and 6 temp= kill trees
  • 2oc incraese above pre-indust levels would see 20-40% of amazon die within 100yrs (3oc ^=75%)(4oc^=85%)
24
Q

what are 2 characteristics of amazon soil?

A
  • contains 4-9kg of C in ^ 50cm

- when burned 30-60% C lost into atmosphere

25
Q

what can a changes in precipation and extreme rainfall events seasonally lead too?: (4)

A
  • overall reduction is river discharge
  • flash flooding
  • destroy fresh water ecosystem
  • destroy water supply
26
Q

what are 3 impacts of warm waters on amazon rivers?

A
  • kill off temp dependent species
  • change biodiversity
  • reduce water dissolved oxygen
27
Q

what are the 3 national and international agreement agencies (mitigation)?

A
  • the TARAPOTO- prices to help achieve harmonious forest development
  • Latin American Technical Co-op Network on Watershed Management (REDLACH)
  • Amazon Co-op Treaty Org (ACTO) to promote harmonious development
28
Q

what are 4 mitigation strategies?

A
  • creation of national parks (e.g. para rainforest reserve 15 mill ha)
  • enrichment of degraded forest using native species
  • reforestation
  • forest biofuel production