Artic tundra carbon cycle Flashcards
Permafrost processes
Not optimum conditions
Low temp, low decomposition
Therefore, dead organism covered by sediment deposits in active layer rather than broken down
How much carbon is stored in the permafrost
1,700 billion metric tons
51x annual carbon release from fossil fuel emissions
Active layer processes occurring
Photosynthesis, respiration and decomposition
Flora and fauna in the artic tundra
Only 26 mammals native to Greenland (low biodiversity and bio density)
Western Artic Caribou herd larger than 400 000
Woody vegetation e.g dwarf willow and heather
Geology of artic tundra: carbon cycle
Carbonate rooks in Alaska and Brooks Range release acid in carbonation by melting ice
Geology has little influence due to permafrost
Shields contribute very little to carbon cycle
Less microorganisms and CO2 released due to frozen and/or impermeable ground
Methane hydrates
Compound of CH4 in H2O
Keeps Methane in sold form in ice
1m3 methane clathrate produces 163m3 natural gas at surface
Hydrates above and below permafrost line
Methane has 20x impact ofCO2 over 100 years
Percentage of world permafrost currently at risk for thawing is exceeds 2 degree rise (Paris agreement)
Over 40%
Shrinkage of permafrost in 2 degree scenario
5.8 mil square miles currently to 2.5 mil square mile
Carbon released from permafrost thaw by 2100
92 gigatons
Number of offshore oil and gas prospects in Alaska
16
Oil production on North slope Alaska 1980 vs 2019
1980: 1524 barrels/day
2019: 451 barrels/day
Trans-Alaskan pipeline
Mitigation against impact of oil industry
Refrigerated supports: found in Trans Alaskan pipeline to stabilise temperature of permafrost
Supercomputers to detect oil and gas bearing geological structures remotely: 10% all supercomputer used by this industry: for seismic data profiling and reservoir modelling to optimise oil drilling
