2.a Amazon Rainforest

Question 1

Facts on Amazon Rainforest

Answer 1

• 5.5 million/km squared
• 25,000km squared deforested each year
• 2000mm of rainfall a year
• largest rainforest in the world
• spread over 9 countries (mainly Brazil)

Question 2

Water (relief)

Answer 2

• lowlands has high rates of infiltration and throughflow
• highlands has high rates of run off

Question 3

Water (rock permeability and porosity)

Answer 3

• mainly igneous rocks
• impermeable
• dense vegetation which increases rates of evapotranspiration
• drives convectional rainfall

Question 4

Water (temp)

Answer 4

• average = 27 degrees
• high rates of evaporation and then high humidity, and water vapour
• high rates of precipitation (mainly in December to May - ICTZ)

Question 5

Carbon (temps)

Answer 5

• increases rates o photosynthesis
• increases rapid decomposition

Question 6

Carbon ( soil and vegetation)

Answer 6

• losses leaves annually
• evergreen trees
• NPP= 2500g/m squared/yr
• lacks nutrients
• increased rates of decomposition

Question 7

Carbon (mineral composition of rocks)

Answer 7

• igneous rocks
• hard to weather
• Andes in the main part of geology
• not a major store of carbon

Question 8

Strategies to manage (afforestation)

Answer 8

• areas are protected by ARPA
• aims to restore water cycle (by tribal people)
• promote national reserves
• financial assistance given for land prep and planting to help with costs
• REDD scheme promotes carbon credits
• decrease rates of illegal logging

Question 9

Strategies to manage (improved agricultural practices)

Answer 9

combine livestock and arable crops ( increases ranch productivity a d slows rates of deforestation)
- constant cultivation is unstainable and reduces soil fertility
- rotational cropping increases soil fertility
- aslo the use of charcoal to increase soil fertility (low carbon emission)

Question 10

Madeira basin

Answer 10

• main tributary to the Amazon river
  -damaged by human activities
• deforestation had reduces water storage
• increased rates of run off and reduced rates of evapotranspiration
• experienced flooding in 2014 due to La Nina
• changes to local and regional climate

Question 11

Human activities (deforestation)

Answer 11

• done for road construction, mining and slash burn farms
• exposes the soil which increases rates of decomposition
• reduces the input of organic matter
• reduced the biosphere carbon and nutrient store
• mass removal is driven by governmental organisations

Question 12

Human activities (farming)

Answer 12

• nutrients are washed away
• cattle ranching is the main farming method
  -60% of deforestation
• lower veg grows ( impacts water and carbon cycle)