Amazon rainforest

wheres it located

northern south america

Characteristics of the amazon rainforest

very hot and wet, dense vegetation, home to approx 20% of species on earth - including many endangered species (eg. amazonian manatee)

how many trees are there in the amazon rainforest

300b

what do the warm temps effect the water cycle

cause more evaporation and condensation and thus precipitation

what is the high interception there due to

the dense canopy providing many water stores (vegetation)

what are species there adapted for - give an example

high humidity and frequent rainfall - eg waxy leaves

how does human activity (deforestation/forest fires/burning fossil fuels) effect the rainforest’s water cycle

reduced rainfall interception causing increased soil saturation and surface runoff which increases risk of flooding

reduced rates of evapotranspiration causing less water vapour in atmosphere so less clouds meaning reduced rainfall and thus increased risk of drought

global carbon sink for how much % of the earths carbon

20%

whats the carbon cycle like in the rainforest

increased sequestration due to dense canopy so CO2 concentration is high leading to increased productivity of vegetation

How does deforestation effect the rainforests carbon cycle

less roots to hold soil together causes heavy rain to wash away the top layer of soil which is rich in nutrients causing carbon stored in the soil to transfer to the hydrosphere

What is the effect of less leaf litter (dead plants) due to deforestation

Humus isn’t formed so there’s less support for new growth limiting future carbon absorption

If the number of trees decreased what happens to the global carbon cycle

There’ll be less carbon sequestered so more atmospheric carbon which will enhance the greenhouse effect and thus global warning

What is the risk of rising temps (before negative feedback occurs)

increased evapotransporation can lead to droughts (as experienced in 2005 and 2010)

Whats the long term effect of plants/animals adapted to moist conditions dieing in dry weather

they’ll become extinct and atmospheric CO2 will increase due to decomposition

What risk does drought pose - hazard

Provides dry vegetation which is good fuel for wildfires - which can increase atmospheric CO2 by combustion

what is selective logging and how can it improve changes to the cycles

Practise of only taking a few trees so the forest structure is largely kept by exposing less soil and providing easier regeneration of vegetation

What did Peru plan to do by 2020

Restore 2.3ha of forest

Whys it important to plant the same plant species again

So varieties are kept for the future and local carbon/water cycle returns to initial state

What is a method of limiting human impacts on the amazon

Environmental laws eg ban of excessive logging

How could negative feedback help the rainforest - give an example

by maintaining dynamic equilibrium it can reduce the changes to be less impactful in the long term (eg more photosynthesis reduces CO2 levels and therefore decreases levels of warming)

how can positive feedback (increased temps) in the rainforest effect the water and carbon cycle

the water cycle may become disrupted by drought causing vegetation to decrease and therefore less photosynthesis taking carbon in

what may make it harder to keep up with changes in the carbon budget in future

human impacts

how much of the forest was deforested by 2022

26%

Reasons deforestation has occurred in the rainforest

logging

road building for easier access - tourist, transport of goods, locals, COP30 climate summit

mineral extraction

energy development

population growth