Physical Geography case studies by the specification:
Water And Carbon:
Amazon
Morpeth Wans beck catchment
Glacial Systems and Landscapes
Alps
Alaska
Lake District
Hazards
Haiti Earthquake
Iceland Volcano
Hurricane Catrina
Typhoon Haiyan
Australia wildfires
California as a multi hazardous region
, Amazon
- World’s largest rainforest
- Covers 40% of South America’s landmass
- Home to indigenous people
- Hot, wet and vegetation dense (increased El Nino affect causing flooding)
Water Cycle Carbon Cycle
Evaporation in the Atlantic blows wet air Lots of carbon stored in the vegetation and soil
towards the Amazon which contributes to the
high levels of rainfall. The Amazon stores more carbon than it emits
so is a carbon sink.
Humid climate means evapotranspiration is
high in the rainforest which increases The Amazon has become more productive with
precipitation increasing atmospheric CO2 levels because
vegetation is able to access more CO2 for
Dense canopy means that interception is high photosynthesis. This has also increased the
so there is less water going directly into rivers amount of biomass.
and the soil.
With increased atmospheric CO2 levels, trees
Animals here are adapted to humid are dying younger even though they are
environment with high rainfall. growing quicker.
Human impacts on the water and carbon cycle
Water Cycle Carbon Cycle
Deforestation means there is no tree canopy to Deforestation means there are no roots to hold
intercept rainfall, so more water reaches the the soil together which means that heavy
ground surface quicker. This means there is too rainfall washes away the nutrient-rich top layer
much water to infiltrate into the soil, so the of soil. This means carbon is transferred from
water moves to rivers as surface runoff. This the soil to the hydrosphere.
increases the flood risk.
Water And Carbon:
Amazon
Morpeth Wans beck catchment
Glacial Systems and Landscapes
Alps
Alaska
Lake District
Hazards
Haiti Earthquake
Iceland Volcano
Hurricane Catrina
Typhoon Haiyan
Australia wildfires
California as a multi hazardous region
, Amazon
- World’s largest rainforest
- Covers 40% of South America’s landmass
- Home to indigenous people
- Hot, wet and vegetation dense (increased El Nino affect causing flooding)
Water Cycle Carbon Cycle
Evaporation in the Atlantic blows wet air Lots of carbon stored in the vegetation and soil
towards the Amazon which contributes to the
high levels of rainfall. The Amazon stores more carbon than it emits
so is a carbon sink.
Humid climate means evapotranspiration is
high in the rainforest which increases The Amazon has become more productive with
precipitation increasing atmospheric CO2 levels because
vegetation is able to access more CO2 for
Dense canopy means that interception is high photosynthesis. This has also increased the
so there is less water going directly into rivers amount of biomass.
and the soil.
With increased atmospheric CO2 levels, trees
Animals here are adapted to humid are dying younger even though they are
environment with high rainfall. growing quicker.
Human impacts on the water and carbon cycle
Water Cycle Carbon Cycle
Deforestation means there is no tree canopy to Deforestation means there are no roots to hold
intercept rainfall, so more water reaches the the soil together which means that heavy
ground surface quicker. This means there is too rainfall washes away the nutrient-rich top layer
much water to infiltrate into the soil, so the of soil. This means carbon is transferred from
water moves to rivers as surface runoff. This the soil to the hydrosphere.
increases the flood risk.
