What are the short term benefits of clearing rainforest areas?
-Land for agriculture, houses and roads
-Jobs for local workers in road building, logging, agriculture, mining and construction
-Scientific investigation of rainforest plants can provide food and medicine
What are the disadvantages of clearing rainforests?
-Threat to the survival of many plant and animal species, can lead to environmental degradation
-Widespread deforestation damages the biosphere
What are the positive impacts of human intervention in the amazon?
-Improved transportation from new roads and airports
-New infrastructure like schools and hospitals from money gained from selling natural resources
-Stimulates economy
-Opportunity for small and large scale farming
What are the problems of human intervention in the amazon?
-Commercial logging
-New roads divide parts of the forest
-Deforestation
-Fertile soils quickly wash away when vegetation is cleared
-Loss of animal habitat
-Profits from large scale farming and mining often go back to large companies and not the local communities
How can brazil sustainably use the amazon?
-Agro forestry
-Selective logging
-Education
-Afforestation
-Monitoring
What is agro forestry?
Agro forestry integrates crop ,livestock, and forest species which helps prevent soil erosion, keeping it fertile
-Retains 60-80% more carbon then monoculture
What is the impact of deforestation on the amazon on the patterns of rainfall?
-In the western amazon rainfall may increase but southern and eastern areas are expected to see temps rise and rainfall drop.
-Overall rainfall does not diminish but precipitation patterns shift
What are the impacts of deforestation in the amazon on the carbon cycle?
-If droughts worsen forests could become a net source of emissions
E.g. the 2005 drought resulted in the net flux of 5 billion tons of CO2 compared to it normally being a net sink of 2 million tons.
-Drought killed half a billion trees
How much rainfall does the amazon receive per year?
The amazon receives 2000 mm per year
What happened to the Tanguro ranch after deforestation?
The Tanguro ranch was converted into cattle grazing land and now only has 850mm of rainfall compared to 2000mm
How much carbon does the amazon store approximately?
150 billion tonnes
What is the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)?
It is a narrow band of intense precipitation and rising air near the equator, where the northerly and southerly trade winds converge
How does the ICTZ affect the amazon?
The ICTZ leads to high rainfall levels which support the dense vegetation and processes of evapotranspiration and photosynthesis
-Changes in the ICTZ can alter rainfall patterns and subsequently affect the amazons ability to sequester carbon
How are the water and carbon cycles linked in the amazon?
The moisture released by trees supports rainfall which sustains the forests growth and sequestration capacity
-Movement of water through the amazons basin transports essential nutrients for plant growth
Why is the amazon forest being deforested?
-Grazing land (Accounts for 80%)
-Plantations
-Logging
-Mineral extraction
-Infrastructure development
-Human settlements and population growth
-Illegal activities
-Climate change
How does deforestation affect water cycle?
-Reduces trees -> reduces evapotranspiration -> reduces cloud formation and rainfall
-The canopy is less dense meaning less water is intercepted resulting in wetter soil which is more likely to degrade and cause floods
How does deforestation affect the carbon cycle?
Stored carbon from photosynthesis is released -> greenhouse gas emissions increase -> can turn amazon into carbon source increasing climate change
Increased soil erosion due to less interception from the canopy, increasing surface runoff and saturation, rain washes nutrients away
Benefits and disadvantage of Agro forestry?
-Stable incomes for small farmers
-Restores degraded land
-Reduces dependency on single crop farming increasing food security
But requires significant initial investment
What are the benefits and disadvantages of eco tourism?
-Generates employment opportunities in local communities
-Supports cultural preservation
-Provides funding for wildlife protection
But can lead to environmental degradation if not managed correctly
Why might sustainable/ selective logging not work?
Monitoring and enforcement of practices can be challenging leading to possible exploitation
Advantages and disadvantages of conservation programs?
-Protects biodiversity
-Supports eco systems
-Opportunities for sustainable tourism and research
But can limit access to natural resources, effecting local communities
How much does the amazon discharge per day?
-15% of fresh water entering the oceans
-175000 meters cubed per second
What is the size of the amazon rainforest?
5.5 million km squared, covering 40% of south america
What is the levels of bio diversity in the Amazon?
-1 million plants species
-500 mammals
-2000 fish
-300 billion trees
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Water and carbon systems and their framework12
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The water cycle63
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The Carbon cycle66
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Water, Carbon, climate and life on earth7
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Other water and carbon case studiess12
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Amazon Rainforest Case study32
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Introduction to coastal Systems and landscape8
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Systems and processes in coastal environments50
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Coastal landscape development42
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coastal management18
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Coastal Systems case studies33
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Hazards38
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Plate Margins37
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Volcanic Hazards16
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E15 case study18
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Seismic hazards62
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Tropical storms20
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Wildfires26
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Tropical storms case study32
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Wildfires case study14
