Precipitation. Through transpiration, the Amazon rainforest is responsible for creating 50-75 percent of its own precipitation . But its impact extends well beyond the Amazon Basin, with Amazon rainfall and rivers feeding regions that generate 70 percent of South America's GDP.
Why the Amazon rainforest is important?
The Amazon rainforest plays an important part in regulating the world's oxygen and carbon cycles . It produces roughly six percent of the world's oxygen and has long been thought to act as a carbon sink, meaning it readily absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
What are 3 reasons why the Amazon rainforest is important?
- help stabilize the world's climate;
- provide a home to many plants and animals;
- maintain the water cycle.
- protect against flood, drought, and erosion;
- are a source for medicines and foods;
- support tribal people; and.
- are an interesting place to visit.
How does the Amazon rainforest affect the climate of South America?
Massive deforestation of the Amazon could change weather outside South America as well. Because water vapor heats the air as it condenses high in the sky to form liquid raindrops, a significant reduction in rain caused by deforestation would actually cool the atmosphere above the region.
Why is the rainforest important to us?
As well as the vivid beauty that comes with great diversity in plants and animals, rainforests also play a practical role in keeping our planet healthy. By absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing the oxygen that we depend on for our survival. The absorption of this CO2 also helps to stabilize the Earth's climate.
How do humans impact the Amazon rainforest?
Mining, logging, ranching, agriculture, and oil and gas extraction have put unsustainable pressure on the delicate rain forests of the Amazon Basin.
What would happen if we lost the Amazon rainforest?
If the Amazon rainforest is destroyed, rainfall will decrease around the forest region . This would cause a ripple effect, and prompt an additional shift in climate change, which would result in more droughts, longer dry spells, and massive amounts of flooding.
Why is Amazon called the lungs of the world?
Plants and trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen back into the air in their process of photosynthesis. This is why the Amazon, which covers 2.1 million square miles, is often referred to as the “lungs of the planet”: The forest produces 20% of the oxygen in our planet's atmosphere .
Why are rainforests in danger?
Rainforests are also threatened by climate change , which is contributing to droughts in parts of the Amazon and Southeast Asia. Drought causes die-offs of trees and dries out leaf litter, increasing the risk of forest fires, which are often set by land developers, ranchers, plantation owners, speculators, and loggers.
Who owns the Amazon rainforest?
Nine countries share the Amazon basin—most of the rainforest, 58.4%, is contained within the borders of Brazil . The other eight countries include Peru with 12.8%, Bolivia with 7.7%, Colombia with 7.1%, Venezuela with 6.1%, Guyana with 3.1%, Suriname with 2.5%, French Guyana with 1.4%, and Ecuador with 1%.
How much of the Amazon rainforest has been destroyed 2020?
Despite the devastation of the 2019 fires in Brazil, ones in 2020 were worse. A new report warns that the Amazon rainforest may be nearing a dangerous tipping point. The Amazon rainforest lost an estimated 5 million acres in 2020, an area roughly the size of Israel, according to a recent report on the region.
Do people live in the Amazon rainforest?
The “uncontacted tribes”, as they are popularly known, mostly live in Brazil and Peru. The number of indigenous people living in the Amazon Basin is poorly quantified, but some 20 million people in 8 Amazon countries and the Department of French Guiana are classified as “indigenous”.
How does the rainforest affect us?
They make much of the oxygen humans and animals depend on. Without them, there would be less air to breathe! Rainforests also help maintain Earth's climate . By taking in carbon dioxide, they help to reduce the greenhouse effect.
What are the disadvantages of rainforests?
- 1 Weather. The weather in the tropical rainforest is always hot and humid. ...
- 2 Tropical Diseases. Tropical diseases thrive in the rainforest area because of the hot, humid climate. ...
- 3 Poverty. The populated areas surrounding tropical rainforests tend to be poor. ...
- 4 Isolation.
What does the rainforest provide?
Rainforests are essential to life on Earth. Not only do they provide air, water, medicine, food, and shelter to a multitude of living beings, they are also one of our best natural defenses against climate change because of their capacity to absorb greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
How do humans use the rainforest?
People have long used forests as a source of food, wood, medicine, and recreation . Rainforests offer opportunities for cultural exchange, photography, adventure, fishing, hiking, relaxation, birding and wildlife spotting. ...
