14 - Fast Carbon Cycle

Question 1

What is the fast carbon cycle?

Answer 1

• The fast carbon cycle is a process that involves the rapid movement of carbon between the atmosphere, ocean, soils, and living organisms in the biosphere and hydrosphere.
• It is estimated to be up to a thousand times quicker than the slow carbon cycle.

Question 2

What is diffusion in the context of the carbon cycle?

Answer 2

• Diffusion is the process of the interchange of gases between the ocean and the atmosphere in the context of the carbon cycle.
• Carbon dioxide moves from the atmosphere into the ocean in this process of diffusion, so the surface ocean gains a lot of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• However, some carbon dioxide created in the ocean also gets leaked out of the ocean back into the atmosphere, resulting in a continuing flux between the atmosphere and the surface ocean in terms of gas exchange.

Question 3

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What is phytoplankton and how are they related to the carbon cycle?

Answer 3

• Phytoplankton are microscopic plant organisms that float around in the surface ocean and use dissolved carbon in the surface ocean along with sunlight and water to photosynthesize.
• They use this carbon to build their cells and make food for themselves.
• When they respire, they release carbon back into the surface ocean, and some of it is released back into the atmosphere.
• Therefore, phytoplankton are part of the fast carbon cycle, and their growth is influenced by the amount of sunlight available.

Question 4

How do trees contribute to the carbon cycle?

Answer 4

• Trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere via photosynthesis to build their structures and make food.
• Carbon is stored in the matter, such as the trunk, branches, leaves, and roots, as organic carbon or a carbon compound.
• Carbon from the trees is then passed down the food chain to animals and humans when they are eaten.
• When plants and animals respire, they release carbon back into the atmosphere, and when they die, decomposers break down the matter via the process of decomposition and release carbon into the atmosphere as CO2 or back into the soil for recycling.
• Therefore, trees play a role in the fast carbon cycle as well.

Question 5

What is the role of decomposers in the carbon cycle?

Answer 5

• When plants and animals die, decomposers break down the matter via the process of decomposition and release carbon into the atmosphere as CO2 or back into the soil for recycling.
• Decomposers include fungi and bacteria, which are important for nutrient cycling in ecosystems. Therefore, they play a crucial role in the fast carbon cycle.

Question 6

What are the two “pumps” that move carbon between the ocean and atmosphere?

Answer 6

The biological pump and the physical pump

Question 7

Draw a diagram of the fast carbon cycle?

Answer 7

Question 8

What is the Physical(inorganic pump)?

Answer 8

• Involves the mixing of surface and deep ocean waters by vertical currents, creating a more even distribution of carbon both geographically and vertically in the oceans.

Question 9

What is the Biological (organic) pump?

Answer 9

• The ocean’s biologically driven sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere to deep sea water and sediment.

Question 10

Stat about the biological pump

Answer 10

• 50 GT of carbon is drawn from the atmosphere by the biological pump every year.

Question 11

How much carbon does the fast cycle move compared to the slow cycle?

Answer 11

• The fast carbon cycle involves around 1,000 to 100,000 million metric tons of carbon a year
• The slow carbon cycle moves between 10 and 100million tonnes of carbon a year and as it involves the lithosphere, the carbon moves more slowly between stores.

Question 12

Timings for Slow Carbon Cycle

Answer 12

• 100-200 million years

Question 13

Draw a diagram of the slow carbon cycle

Answer 13