1.9. Fast Carbon Transfers

Question 1

How is carbon transferred in weathering?

Answer 1

• Rocks will slowly dissolve with carbon being held in the solution
• Transported via water cycle to oceans and carbonated to build shells
• Calcium carbonate used to create shells

Question 2

Weathering

Answer 2

• involves the break down or decay of rocks in their original place or close to the surface
• when C02 is formed, it forms mildly acidic carbonic acid

Question 3

How is carbon transferred in carbon sequestration?

Question 4

Photosynthesis

Answer 4

the process whereby plants use light energy to produce carbohydrates in the form of glucose

Question 5

How is carbon transferred in photosynthesis?

Answer 5

• transfers atmospheric carbon into biomass
• plants and plankton use energy from the sun to change CO2 and water into glucose and oxygen
• carbon is then passed through the food chain and released through respiration and decomposition

Question 6

How is carbon transferred in burial and compaction?

Answer 6

• corals and shelled organisms take up CO2 from H2O and convert it to calcium carbonate, used to build shells

Question 7

Respiration

Answer 7

• a chemical process that happens in all cells and is common to plants and animals
• glucose is converted into energy that can be used for growth and repair

Question 8

How is carbon transferred in respiration?

Answer 8

• transfers carbon from living organisms (biosphere) to atmosphere
• plants and animals break down glucose for energy, releasing carbon dioxide and methane in the process

Question 9

Burial and compaction

Answer 9

• organic matter is buried by sediments and becomes compacted
• over millions of years, these sediments containing carbon may form hydrocarbon

Question 10

Carbon sequestration

Answer 10

• transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to plants, soils, rock formations and oceans
• natural and human process

Question 11

Decomposition

Answer 11

• when organisms die, they are consumed by decomposers such as bacteria, fungi and earthworms

Question 12

How is carbon transferred in decomposition?

Answer 12

• transfers carbon from dead biomass to atmosphere and soil
• after death, bacteria and fungi break organisms down
• co2 and methane are released
• some carbon transferred to soil
• carbon from bodies returned to atmosphere as co2

Question 13

Combustion

Answer 13

• when organic material is burned in the presence of oxygen, it is converted into energy

Question 14

How is carbon transferred in combustion

Answer 14

• co2 is released into atmosphere, returning carbon that might have been stored in rocks for millions of years
• more carbon in oceans means levels rise

Question 15

Ocean carbon pumps

Answer 15

• when it is cold, carbon will sink
• oceanic pump is a constant movement of water
• when it gets back to surface, carbon is released
• carbon sink- absorbing more carbon
• movements of water- warm water to cold water
• carbon sinks are carried to warmer latitudes where it is released
• transferring water from hydrosphere to atmosphere then atmosphere to hydrosphere
• deep vertical mixing: going round and being mixed

Question 16

Biological pump

Answer 16

• shells made from carbon in water