Amazon rainforest

• Describe the size of the Amazon Rainforest

  Largest tropical rainforest - covers 40% of South America's landmass.
• What is the Climate like?

  Hot, wet climate with dense vegetation.
• Describe the Water Cycle in the Amazon Rainforest.

  * Causes the Amazon to be very wet - evaporation over the Atlantic Ocean means wet air blow towards Amazon.

  * Warm temps = high evaporation = increased precipitation.

  * Dense rainforest canopy = high interception = less water flows into rivers and slower.
• Describe the Carbon Cycle in the Amazon Rainforest.

  * It is a carbon sink - stores carbon in vegetation and soil.

  * Increase atmospheric CO2 = increased productivity of vegetation = increased biomass of vegetation.

  * Amount of CO2 sequestered is growing, increasing its importance as a carbon store.

  * Trees are dying younger - maybe wont be such an effective sink in the future?
• How has the Rainforest Changed in the last 50 years?

  The basin has lost 17% of its primary rainforest - 80% of this is due to cattle ranching.
• How does Decreased Evapotranspiration from Deforestation effect the Rainforest?

  Air less moist = reduction in cloud cover = more solar radiation is reflected and temperature increases.
• Greater Radiation Reflectivity and Increased Rising of Warm Air =

  Reduced influence of dominant low pressure system over the Amazon basin (draws in moist air) = less precipitation.
• How does Deforestation affect River Discharge (Locally & Continetally)

  * Locally = discharge increases due to increased surface flow.

  * Continentally = decrease as overall precipitation decrease.
• How is Local Rainfall affected by Deforestation and Combustion?

  Particles from burning of forest = increase in airborne aerosols around which water condenses. Smaller droplets then form in the clouds, meaning there is less local rain.
• How much Carbon is immediately released through Combustion of Forests?

  30-60%
• How much Carbon does the Amazon Rainforest Emit and Absorb each year?

  * Emits 1.9 billion tons (decomposition and respiration).

  * Absorbs 2.2 billion tons of CO2.
• How has Carbon Absorption changed between 1990s and 2015?

  * 1990's: absorbed 2 billion tons of CO2.

  * 2015: absorbed 1 billion tons of CO2.
• What are the 4 main attempts to help with Deforestation in the Amazon?

  1. Selective logging.

  2. Replanting.

  3. Environmental law.

  4. Protection.
• What is 'Selective Logging'?

  Only selected trees are felled. This is less damaging then felling the whole forest - forest structure is kept and soil isn't exposed = forest can regenerate itself.
• What is 'Replanting'?

  New trees are planted for those cut down. The same species as those cut down are replanted to keep the natural variety.

  E.g. Peru plans to restore 3.2 million hectares by 2020.
• What Environmental Laws are there to reduce Deforestation?

  * Banned use of wood from unsustainably managed forests.

  * Ban on excessive logging.

  * Laws to control land use.
• How does Protection help with Deforestation?

  National Parks and reserves are set up to help conserve areas and carefully monitor them.
• what is the carbon budget

  difference between the inputs of carbon into a subsystem and outputs of carbon from it
• factors that affect carbon budget in the Amazon

  deforestation

  increased co2 in the atmosphere

  temperature increase(global warming)
• how does deforestation affect carbon budget

  reduces carbon store-20% of rainforest lost already

  burning of forests released CO2

  removal of trees exposes soil to erosion and reduces soil's ability to store carbon
• how does temperature increase from increased co2 affect the Amazon

  less rainfall during dry season - dessertification

  2050 temperature 3' increase

  2009 study showed that a 2' temp rise would result in the loss of 40% of the amazon in 100 years
• how does increased atmospheric co2 affect amazon

  trees are growing faster and dying younger with shallow roots , surplus co2 in atmosphere increases growth in plants
• How does farming affect carbon budget

  animals released co2 and methane

  ploughing increases co2 released

  rice paddies increase methane store

  mechanisation of farming emits lots of co2
• how does land use change affect carbon budget

  vegetation removed removes carbon store

  concrete production releases co2

  concrete cannot store carbon like soil so stores are reduced
• Logging:

  30 other trees may be destroyed in the process of cutting down just 1

  5 million hectacres of forest are lost in the amazon each year
• mitigating impacts , environmental law

  •  Laws that ban the use of wood from forests that are not managed sustainably.• Laws that ban excessive logging.• Laws that control land use, e.g. the Brazilian Forest Code says that landowners have to keep 50-80% of their land as forest.CITES - blocks the illegal trade in rare and endangered species the international tropical timber agreement (2006)-restricts the trade in hardwood taken from tropical rainforests eg timber
• Brazilian forest code

  law that controls land use

  landowners have to keep 50-80% of their land as forest
• replanting project

  Pergot - Onf project

  restoring 2,000 hectacres of degraded cattle pasture in the Sao nicolao farm
• Protection example

  Juma sustainable forest reserve

  1.4 million acres of forest