Amazon rainforest

Question 1

area

Answer 1

5.5 million km squared

Question 2

how many trees

Answer 2

300 billion

Question 3

how much total carbon is stored what % of that is above ground biomass

Answer 3

150 billion tonnnes
75%

Question 4

how much CO2 is absorbed per year and how much is released

Answer 4

2 billion tonnes absorbed
1.5 billion tonnes released

Question 5

reasons for deforestation the amazon

Answer 5

cattle ranching (most common ), soy farming, logging, construction, mining

Question 6

what % has been deforested

Answer 6

17-20

Question 7

impacts of deforestation on carbon cycle in the amazon rainforest

Answer 7

• greater atmospheric CO2 - some parts (south-east) become net carbon source
• soil erosion due to less cpver = less carbon storge (positive feedback)

Question 8

example of deforestation positive fedback loop (carbon)

Answer 8

deforestation - less photosynthesis - more atmospheric CO2 - increased temperature - drought - more forest fires - further tree loss

Question 9

example of deforestation negative feedback loop (carbon)

Answer 9

deforestation - more atmospheric CO2 - increased temperature - increased plant growth - more photosynthesis - less atmospheric CO2

Question 10

how much CO2 do forest fires release per hectare

Answer 10

200 tonnes

Question 11

amount of rainfall per year

Answer 11

2000-3000 mm per year

Question 12

why is rainfall so high in the amazon

Answer 12

intense solar radiation causes warm moist air to rise + condense
- dense vegeation = high ET
- geographical barriers (the Andes mountain range) that trap water vapor
- closed system loop - forest ET generates its own rain

Question 13

major water stores

Answer 13

• atmosphere due to high ET and water vapour
• vegetation - dense canopy
• soil - high infiltration rates
• amazon river - holds 20% of global river discharge

Question 14

key water transfers

Answer 14

• around 50-70% of rainfall is recycled through ET
• dense canopy intercepts 35% of rainfall
• thick leaf litter + root systems increase infiltration
• limted overland flow due to vegetation cover

Question 15

deforestation impacts on water stores

Answer 15

• reduced interception means less vegetation storage
• dryer soils or saturated soils means less soil moisture storage

Question 16

deforestation impacts on transfers

Answer 16

• reduced vegetation means reduced ET leading to lower atmospheric humidity and les convectional rainfall
• increase surface runoff leads to higher flood risks + more rapid river discharge

Question 17

positive feedback loop of deforestation(water)

Answer 17

deforestation - less ET - less rainfall - increased droughts - increased chance of forest fire - further loss of trees

Question 18

what are flying rivers

Answer 18

large atmospheric flows of water vapour that move across the amazon + transport moisture

Question 19

how do flying rivers form

Answer 19

• high ET means water vapour builds up over the forest creating high humidity + cloud formation
• prevailing wind moves this moisture westwards. When air reaches the Andes, it is forced upwards, cooling + condensing into heavy rainfal

Question 20

impacts of climate change on the amazon

Answer 20

• increase tree mortality - some species not able to adapt
• longer dry seasons - sever droughts in 2005, 2010 and 2015
• more frequent + intense storms

Question 21

attempts to limit human impacts

Answer 21

• potected areas for consevation
• selective logging
• replanting
• international agreements
• satelite mointoring

Question 22

what % is under some form of protection

Answer 22

45-50

Question 23

positve + negative of protecting areas for conservation

Answer 23

• reduces large-scale deforestation
• enforcemeent can be weak in remote areas

Question 24

Amazon Region protected Areas Programme (ARPA)

Answer 24

2002
protects around 60 million hectares of rainforest

Question 25

what is selective logging and what is a positve + negative of it

Answer 25

only the oldest trees are cut down - less damaging for the forest and only has a small negative impact - still releases some carbon

Question 26

how many acres of forest did the replanting project in Peru replant between 2016 and 2019

Answer 26

115 acres

Question 27

what is the REDD international agreement and what is a negative of it

Answer 27

Reducing Emmisions from Deforestation + Degration involves countries financialy rewarded for reducing deforestation and protecting the forest - funding + monitoring is incosistent

Question 28

what is agroforestry

Answer 28

combines crops with native trees - allowing econmic growth + maintance of carbon sinks

Question 29

what % of deforested areas in Brazil are used for pasture (livestock farming)

Answer 29

80%