Amazon basin case study notes

The amazon rainforest

Location - South America
Occupies Moore than 6 million km2
70% of the forest is ion brazil
Extends to neighbouring countries like Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia and Guayana
The rainforest water cycle-
High average temperatures of 25-30 degrees Celsius
Small seasonal variation of temperatures
High average rainfall, Moore than 2000mm, with no dry season
The worlds largest tract of rainforest
Dominated by tall, evergreen, hardwood trees
High average temperatures are a response for intense insolation throughout the year
Between 50 and 60 % of precipitation inn Amazonia is recycled by evapotranspiration

Precipitation - >2000mm

-evenly distribute throughout the year
-high intensity, convectional rainfall
-interception by forest and trees is high, accounts for 20-25% of all evaporation
evapotranspiration-
-high rates due to high temperatures, abundant moisture and high vegetation
-strong evapotranspiration - precipitation feedback loops sustain height rainfall totals
-half of incoming rainfall is recycled by evapotranspiration

Runoff-
-rapid runoff due to heightened rainfall, intensive rainfall events and well drained soils
-river discharge may peak in one or two moths per year

Atmosphere-
-high temperatures allow the atmosphere to store large amounts of moisture
-relative humidity is also high

Soil/ground water-
-abundant rainfall and deep tropical soils leads to significant water storage oil soils and aquifers

Vegetation-
-rainforest trees play a crucial role in the water cycle, absorbing and storing water from the soil and releasing it through transpiration

The…