Amazon Rainforest

• Location of the Amazon Rainforest

  South America, mainly Colombia but covers areas in Peru and Brazil
• Few facts and figures about the rainforest

  Home to 200 million people

  Worlds largest rainforest and covers 40% of South America

  Home to 1 million plant species

  Home to over 500 species of mammals
• Factors that contribute to the water cycle

  Dense Canopy increases interception

  Warm temperatures can increase rates of precipitation

  Very shallow and broad rooted trees that take nutrients and water more directly from the leaf litter.
• Factors that involve the Carbon cycle

  A carbon sink through vegetation and soils.

  Increased carbon dioxide which has increased photosynthesis and therefore plant growth.

  However trees are dying younger.
• The 4 layers in the rainforest.

  Top- Emergence

  Middle- Upper Canopy

  Middle- Lower Canopy

  Bottom- Shrub layer/leaf litter layer
• How does deforestation affect the WATER cycle ?

  No tree canopy decreasing interception

  Soils become too saturated

  Surface run-off increases

  Increases flood risk
• How does deforestation affect the CARBON scale ?

  No roots to hold soil together

  Water washes away nutrients and leaf litter

  Carbon is put more into the hydrosphere
• How does CLIMATE change affect the water cycle?

  Temperatures increasing leading to drought.

  Amazon had severe droughts in 2005 and 2010.

  Most species will die.

  Drought can lead to forest fires and therefore less vegetation and therefore less interception.
• How does CLIMATE change affect the the Carbon cycle?

  Increased decomposition and therefore increased carbon into atmosphere

  Increased temperature of 4 degrees will kill 85% of the Amazon Rainforest
• Difference between Negative and Positive feedback loops

  Negative brings the change back to equilibrium

  Positive increases the change further away from