Water and Carbon Cycle

What is the water cycle?

The water cycle is the continuous and dynamic process by which water moves through various phases and locations on Earth's surface and atmosphere.

What are the stages of the water cycle?

Four main processes: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.

What is evaporation?

Liquid moving from liquid state to gaseous state.

What is condensation?

Water moves from a gaseous state to liquid, forming a clouds.

What is precipitation?

Any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, that falls from clouds and reaches the ground.

Location of Amazon

Rainforest covering around 5.5 million km² across 9 countries in South America.

How much carbon dioxide is stored in the Amazon?

between 80 and 120 billion tonnes of carbon

What contributes to the high rainfall in the Amazon?

The evaporation over The Atlantic Ocean which is blown towards the rainforest.

What is the average annual rainfall across the whole Amazon Basin?

Approximately 2300mm³, can exceed 6000mm³ in the Northwest.

What percentage of rainfall remains in a closed loop in the Amazon?

about 60%.

How much rainfall reaches the sea?

Only 30% that lands on Amazon Basin

What is the average discharge of the Amazon?

Around 175,000 m³/s

The increasing concentration of CO2 has led to increased vegetation productivity as there is more CO2 for photosynthesis.

However, a 2015 study has revealed that the forest is losing its capacity to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.

At what rate was the Brazilian Amazon deforested?

Rate of 19368km² per year between 2000 and 2007

What does removal of forest using slash and burn cause?

Reduced retention of humidity in the top 1m of soil, sudden evaporation of water previously in forest canopy, increases albedo and temperature of rainforest, erosion and silting of rivers and lakes.

What does warmer water temperatures cause?

Change biodiversity of river system, reduced oxygen concentrations dissolved in water.

What are the main causes of deforestation in the Amazon?

Timber exploitation, agriculture, road building, mineral extraction, energy development, settlement, and population growth.

How does deforestation affect rainfall interception and surface runoff?

No canopy to intercept rainfall leads to increased surface runoff and higher flood risk.

What happens when evapotranspiration rates are reduced due to deforestation?

Less water vapour reaches the atmosphere, reducing cloud formation and increasing drought risk.

How does deforestation affect soil erosion?

Rain directly hits soil without interception, increasing erosion and weathering.

How does deforestation affect soil carbon?

Erosion and rain wash carbon into rivers; some is lost to the atmosphere via decomposition.

What percentage of anthropogenic carbon emissions comes from rainforest burning?

Around 30%

What has been the average temperature increase since the mid-1970s in the Amazon?

0.26° ± 0.05°C every ten years.

Amazon - Selective Logging method

Only certain trees are felled, keeping forest structure so soil is not exposed.

Amazon - Selective Logging Advantages

Preserves biodiversity, generates income, reduces carbon emissions from burning, sustainable forest management.

Amazon - Selective Logging Disadvantages

May lead to illegal logging and corruption, cannot ensure only intended trees are felled, may harm wildlife, requires planning and oversight.

Amazon - Afforestation The Eden Project

International scheme to replant several areas of Brazil.

Amazon - How many hectares have been replanted by the Eden Project?

Nearly 30,000 with over 605,000 trees

Amazon - Afforestation advantages

Local employment with fair pay, increases native tree cover, can boost eco-tourism, long-term solution.

Amazon - Afforestation disadvantages

Takes time and money to take full effect, hard to discourage deforestation.

What is the IBAMA and what do they do?

The Brazilian institute of environmental and natural resources, ensures the preservation and maintenance of the environment.

Amazon - IBAMA advantages

Prevention and control of deforestation, support for environmental emergencies, environmental education programs.

Amazon - IBAMA disadvantage

Presidency of Bolsonaro - there has been a 278% increase of the rate of deforestation.

Amazon - Protection

Many countries have set up national parks and nature reserves to protect the rainforest.

Amazon - Tumucumaque (2002)

World’s largest tropical forest park, 3.84 million hectares which are almost untouched and closed to public.

Source of River Frome

Nettleton, Gloucestershire.

What is the catchment area size of River Frome?

Approximately 250 km²

What land use dominates the catchment area of River Frome?

Arable farmland, grassland, and built-up areas

River Frome - What was notable about the summer in 2007?

Wettest since records began in 1766 due to low-pressure system.

River Frome - What is the average annual rainfall?

857.5 mm, lower than national average of 885mm

River Frome - What was the highest recorder flow rate, and when did it occur?

48.5 m³/s on 20th July 2007

River Frome - What factors affected the runoff?

Reduced - public, industrial, and agricultural water abstraction. Increased - effluent returns (sewage).

River Frome - Why is Stroud particularly at risk of flooding?

Confluence of River Frome, Painswick stream, and Slad Brook, and the steep valleys.

River Frome - Social Impacts

800 homes flooded, 115,000 homes lost water access, 50,000 properties without power for 48 hours.

River Frome - Economic Impacts

£50,000 average house value drop, £140 million cost to local councils.

River Frome - How deep were floodwaters in Tewkesbury?

3ft.

River Frome - What permanent flood defence was built in Upton-Upon-Severn in 2011?

A 500km long flood embankment.

River Frome - What is the Stroud Rural Sustainable Drainage System Project?

RSuDS is a natural flood management scheme launched in 2014, constructing 280 interventions across 14 sites.

River Frome - Who does RSuDS work with?

Landowners, community flood groups, farmers, and partner organisations.

River Frome - What are the goals of RSuDS?

Flood management, improved water quality, enhanced biodiversity.