4a-cycles are linked and inderpendent

Question 1

how are the cycles linked by oceans

Answer 1

When surface temperatures of the ocean falls there is more CO2 diffusion.
Atmospheric CO2 levels influence surface temperature which effects thermal expansion, melting of ice and sea level change

Question 2

how are the cycles linked by atmosphere

Answer 2

Plants take water from the soil then EVTP moves water to the atmosphere- global warming due to CO2 increases this.

Plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere by PS but require H2O to do this

CO2 is exchanged between the atmosphere and the ocean
CO2 affects PS by plants and phytoplankton, also warms the atmosphere and can affect stores of water

Question 3

how are the cycles linked by cryosphere

Answer 3

CO2 levels in the atmosphere effect the greenhouse effect, melting ice, permafrost and sea ice. Reduced albedo effect so PFL is created and the temp is increased further
permafrost melting releases CO2 and CH4 due to oxidation and decomposition of the exposed organic material

Question 4

how are the cycles linked by vegetation

Answer 4

photosynthesis is reliant on water to function. Rates of NPP vary due to water availability, sun and temperature. So in cold dry areas, the NPP is low.

Decomposition relies on water and rates rapidly drop off when there is limited water so less CO2 released by respiration

EVTP requires carbon in vegetation to occur.

Question 5

how are human activities changing the availability of carbon

Answer 5

Exploitation of fossil fuels is decreasing carbon in geological store and increasing in the atmospheric store
As deforestation increases, carbon stored in biosphere will decrease

Acidification of oceans, due to oceans absorb 25% of the CO2 emissions from human activities, threatens phytoplankton which absorb more CO2 than tropical rainforests so less PS and less carbon stored in the ocean

soil erosion means soil carbon store is being degraded by deforestation and bad farming techniques

Question 6

how are human activities changing the availability of water

Answer 6

Deforestation means more urbanisation and less stores of water in the biosphere, more run off and less throughflow- floods (worse due to growing pop)

increase demand for H2O- agriculture irrigation has created shortages
over pumping of aquifers can mean that salt water gets in and the water cant be used

Question 7

impact of long term climate change on carbon cycle

Answer 7

temperature increases so permafrost melts and CO2 and CH4 are released- PFL,

Increased temperature will increase decomposition rates and transfer carbon from the biosphere to the atmosphere

decrease in the forests decreases biomass store of carbon

acidification of oceans by absorption of excess CO2 decreases PS by phytoplankton and decreases ocean store

Movement of carbon varies regionally depending on changes in rate of PS, decomposition and respiration

Question 8

impact of long term climate change on water cycle

Answer 8

Increased temperature increases EVTP and so increases H2O in the atmosphere and as its a GHG the temperature increases so more EVTP (PFL)

Increased temperature melts glaciers and tundra so decreased water in the cryosphere store and increase in the ocean store

extreme weather events like hurricanes are more frequent and powerful