Tropical rainforests Flashcards Preview

Geography - Water and Carbon Cycles > Tropical rainforests > Flashcards

Flashcards in Tropical rainforests Deck (38)
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1
Q

What is an example of a tropical rainforest setting?

A

Indonesian Rainforest

2
Q

How many species does The Indonesian Rainforest have?

A

3000

3
Q

How much of Indonesia did Indonesia’s rainforest cover in 1900?

A

84% - 170 million hectares

4
Q

What are some examples of species in the Indonesian Rainforest?

A

Sumatran tigers, pygmy elephant

5
Q

What is Indonesia?

A

An archipelago of more than 17,000 islands

6
Q

Why is the Indonesian Rainforest so important?

A

It is one of the most biologically and culturally rich landscapes

7
Q

How much of Indonesia did Indonesia’s rainforest cover in 2000?

A

100 million

8
Q

What was the Indonesian rainforest previously known as in terms of carbon?

A

One of the world’s major terrestrial carbon pools

9
Q

How much carbon did the Indonesian rainforest used to store?

A

57 Gt

10
Q

How much carbon does the Indonesian rainforest cover now?

A

37 Gt

11
Q

What is the most reason for the decrease in carbon absorbed by the rainforest?

A

Deforestation and demolition

12
Q

What happens when significant peatlands are burned and replaced by plantations?

A

Thousands of tonnes of carbon is released

The dried vegetation sets the stage for devastating forest fires

13
Q

What has deforestation, demolition and the burning of peatland meant for Indonesia?

A

It is now the third largest emitter of greenhouse gas

14
Q

How much of Indonesia’s greenhouse gas comes from the rainforest?

A

85%

15
Q

Why does Indonesia not have any major rivers?

A

Because it is an archipelago of islands

16
Q

What is one of the largest rivers in Indonesia?

A

Mahakam

17
Q

How long is the Mahakam river?

A

980km long

18
Q

What is the average discharge of the Mahakam river?

A

2,500 m3/s

19
Q

How much rainfall does the lowland areas of Indonesia get?

A

180- 320cm

20
Q

How much rainfall does the highland areas of Indonesia get?

A

610cm

21
Q

When is Indonesia’s dry season?

A

April - October

22
Q

When is Indonesia’s wet season?

A

November - March

23
Q

How is deforestation affecting Indonesia’s water cycle?

A

The trees are crucial for interception, ensuring Indonesia doesn’t flood from its great amount of rainfall

24
Q

How is deforestation impacting both the water and carbon cycle?

A

It leading to the rainforest releasing more carbon, increasing climate change, causing changes in the wet and dry season, meaning Indonesia is not receiving as much rainfall as they used too

25
Q

Why is the main driver of change in the Indonesian rainforest?

A

Industry

26
Q

What is the main industry causing a change in the Indonesian rainforest?

A

Palm oli, paper, plywood, paper

27
Q

What did Indonesia become in the 1970s?

A

The leading raw material supplier in paper and palm oil

28
Q

Since the 1970s how much Peat forest cover has Indonesia lost?

A

More than half

29
Q

What is the main cause of disruption to the environment in Indonesia?

A

Human

30
Q

By how much has rainfall decreased in Indonesia as a result of climate change from deforestation?

A

2-3%

31
Q

How has climate change from deforestation affected Indonesia’s day to day temp?

A

Fewer cool nights, more warm nights and days

32
Q

What temperature increase is Indonesia seeing as a result of climate change from deforestation?

A

2-3 degrees - extreme disruption to the ecosystem

33
Q

In 2010, how much of the rainforest remains forested?

A

Just over 10 million hectares

34
Q

How is climate change caused from deforestation impacting species?

A

They are limited by there intolerance to temp change, drought and seasonality - kill native plants, and cause migration of native animals like Orangoutangs, extinction

35
Q

How will climate change caused by deforestation impact rivers?

A
Overall reduction in river discharge
Increases in silt in rivers
Flash floods
Destroy freshwater ecosystems
Destroy water supplies
River species in danger
36
Q

What campaign has Indonesia recently launched to mitigate the problems with the rainforest?

A

A campaign to stamp out illegal logging and deforestation

37
Q

What law has Indonesia attempted to enforce to mitigate the problems with the rainforest?

A

A law banning plantations on deep peat and preventing fires on peatland

38
Q

What has hindered the attempt to mitigate the problems in the rainforest?

A

Indonesias political economy of corruption