07 - The Carbon Cycle

Question 1

Explain how carbon is important to life on earth?

Answer 1

• It is necessary for photosynthesis and therefore crucial in order for all plants to survive
• It bonds with other atoms (including carbon) to create the basic molecules which make up everything
• This means that without it humans would not be able to survive since there would be no oxygen created by the plants as well as no food or any nutrition for us to live off

Question 2

What is the carbon store for Biosphere?

Answer 2

560 Gt

Question 3

What is the carbon store and residence time for Atmosphere?

Answer 3

• 600 Gt
• 6 years

Question 4

What is the carbon store and residence time for Lithosphere (sedimentary rocks)?

Answer 4

• 60,000-100,000,000
• 150 million years

Question 5

What is the carbon store and residence time for Ocean surface layer?

Answer 5

• 700 Gt
• 25 years

Question 6

What is the carbon store for Ocean deep layer?

Answer 6

• 38,000 Gt
• 1250 years

Question 7

What is the carbon store and residence for Fossil Fuels?

Answer 7

• 5190 Gt

Question 8

What is the process that transfers carbon from human activity to the atmosphere?

Answer 8

• Combustion

Question 9

What is the process that transfers carbon from the atmosphere to biomass?

Answer 9

Photosynthesis

Question 10

What is the process that transfers carbon from the biomass to the atmosphere?

Answer 10

• Respiration
• Decomposition

Question 11

What is the process that transfers carbon from the soil to the atmosphere?

Answer 11

• Oxidation

Question 12

What is the process that transfers carbon from Sedimentary Rocks to the atmosphere?

Answer 12

• Weathering
• Volcanic activity

Question 13

What does increased CO₂ do to the pH of Water?

Answer 13

The pH of water becomes more acidic

Question 14

What is the formula for photosynthesis?

Answer 14

Carbon dioxide + water → Oxygen + glucose

Question 15

What is the role of Photosynthesis in the carbon cycle?

Answer 15

• Photosynthesis takes CO2 out of the atmosphere and stores it with plants as glucose
• 120 GT of CO2 is transferred from the atmosphere to the Biosphere per year by photosynthesis
• Without photosynthesis, there would be a much larger amount of Carbon in the atmosphere

Question 16

What is the formula for respiration?

Answer 16

Oxygen + Glucose → Water + Carbon dioxide + Energy

Question 17

What is the role of respiration in the carbon cycle?

Answer 17

• Respiration produces carbon dioxide which increases carbon levels.
• However this carbon is then taken up by plants and used during photosynthesis to provide energy for the plants themselves

Question 18

Why is respiration and photosynthesis such important processes in the carbon cycle?

Answer 18

• Photosynthesis and respiration are the two most important processes in the fast carbon cycle.
• The volume of carbon exchanged by respiration and photosynthesis each year is one thousand times greater than that moving through the slow carbon cycle