Relationships between cycles

• Natural Rainforest Water Cycle- precipitation falls -> 75% intercepted by trees and through stem flow -> 35% reaches the ground and infiltrates the soil -> 35% used by plants and through transpiration returns to atmosphere - > 25% evaporates and returns to the atmosphere
• Deforested Rainforest Water Cycle- precipitation falls -> most reaches ground immediately as little vegetation to intercept -> high surface run off so higher flood risk ->less evapotranspiration -> less humid atmosphere and rainfall decreases
• Natural Rainforest Carbon Cycle- trees suited to humid and warm conditions promoting photosynthesis -> absorb large amounts of oxygen acting as a carbon sink -> decomposition and respiration releases carbon into atmosphere and soil, where carbon is stored.
• Deforested Rainforest Carbon Cycle- lack of trees so less photosynthesis -> fires clear land leading to carbon release -> forest becomes carbon source not sink -> lack of life until new plants grow -> low rates of decomposition.
• soil and ash flow into rivers from deforested rainforest's runoff, increases carbon content of rivers.
• image of a natural and deforested carbon/water cycle and the impacts they have on each other.

  
• global climate change intervention- Paris Climate Deal COP21- limit global temperature increase to 2 degrees C, support developing countries, awareness schemes, meetings every 5 years to review and improve targets.
• regional climate change intervention- EU 20-20-20- 20% reduction in GHG emissions, 20% of energy coming from renewables, 20% increase in energy efficiency by 2020
• national climate change intervention - Climate Change Act 2008 UK- target to reduce GHG emissions by 80% of 1990 levels by 2050 with a 26% target by 2020, national carbon budgets created
• local scale mitigation of climate change- improve insulation, recycling, use energy wisely and use smart meters, use public transport, calculate personal carbo footprints