AQA A level geography (AMAZON RAINFOREST CASE STUDY)

How much of the S.American continent does the Amazon rainforest occupy?

more than 1/3rd

How much of the Earth's surface freshwater does it account for?

Over 1/5th of freshwater running over earth's surface

How much average rainfall does it recieve?

Average 2300mm of rain

Can exceed 6000mm

Why does up to half of the rainfall recieved not reach the ground?

Due to interception by vegetation which is re-evaporated into the atmosphere.

Of the rainfall that is evapotranspired, what percentage of it falls again as rain?

48%

How much rainfall reaches the sea?

30%

What happens to the rest of the water that doesn't become rainfall?

gets caught up in the closed system loop

What is the average discharge of water into the Atlantic water?

Approx. 17,000m3/s (or around 15%)

How much preceipitation does a tree recycle through evoptranspiration?

over 50%

Why is evoptranspiration/ evoporation important in the hydrological cycle?

because they contribute to climate stablisation

How much carbon is the amazon rainforest estimated to store?

100billion tonnes

What percentage of wood is made up of carbon?

50%

Is the amazon rainforest considered a carbon source or sink?

Carbon sink

How much carbon did the rainforest use to absorb before 1990s?

2.2 billion tonnes of CO2

How much did carbon did the rainforest absorb in 2015?

only 1 billion

The rainforest is at risk of becoming a what?

A carbon source

How much has tree biomass increased?

By 0.3-0.5%

What is causing tree biomass to increase (casuing trees to grow quicker but die younger)?

Carbon fertilisation

At what rate is the rainforest being deforested?

Around 20,000km2 per year

What percentage of Brazilian GHG is attributed to deforestation and landuse change?

75%

What is the most common method of deforestation?

Slash and burn

How much of stored carbon is immediately released during the slash and burn technique?

50-60%

How does deforestation impact the water cycle?

Causes a decrease in evapotranspiration

Leads to an estimated 20% decrease in rainfall levels

Causing river levels to fall.

This may lead to:

- Overall reduction in river discharge

- Flash flooding

- Destruction of freshwater ecosystems further removing a source of protein and income for locals.

- Destroy water supply for locals

What are the impacts of increased water temp. of amazonian rivers?

- May kill offf temperature dependent species

- Change biodiversity of riversystem

- Reduce water-dissolved oxygen concentration, which could destroy eggs/larvae which rely on dissolved oxygen.

Name some examples of strategies being used to mitigate impacts of environmental changes

- Creation of national parks

- The Brazilian Forest code

- National and internation agreeements

How does the creation of national park help mitigate against imapcts of environmental changes?

The Amazon Region Protected Areas (ARPA) - created in 2002 by the Brazilian government:

- By 2018, 60 million hectares of new parks and reserves were created under ARPA

- protect habitats, ecosystems and biodiversity

- reduce conflicts over land ownership

- provide sustainable use options to local communities

- create barriers against deforestation and burning

- maintain forest coverage to lock up carbon

- avoid changes to rainfall patterns.

How many parks and reserves were created under the ARPA?

60 million hectares

How much of an increase was there in management effectiveness in protected areas supported by ARPA between 2005-2015?

17% (or around 20%)

How many gigatonnes of carbon emissions were avoided due to the ARPA between 2005-2015?

1.5 billion tonnes of carbon emmisions avoided

What is the Brazilain Forest code?

Legislation on land management.

Legally requires landowners in the Brazilian Amazon to permanently maintain 80% of the land as forest.

Why was the Brazilian Forest code not very successful?

Little to no repercussions for law breakers

No incentives to encourage farmers not to deforest their land

surveys revealed that only 6 % of farmers in both states were actively trying to compensate for past deforestation on their lands.

3/4 of the farmers they spoke with said they would only restore parts of their property if authorities made them do it.

What national and internal agreements were created to mitigate impacts of environment change?

The Latin American Technical Cooperation Network on Watershed management (REDLACH)

Amazon Cooperation treaty organisation (ACTO) and TARAPOTO

When and why was REDLACH created?

Created in 1980, in order to progress in watershed management and in the promotion of sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

When and why was ACTO AND TARAPOTO created?

Help promote harmonious forest development.

TARAPOTO created in 1995

ACTO created in 1998