Biological Carbon Cycle

Question 1

what are the 4 key processes of the biological carbon cycle?

Answer 1

• photosynthesis
• respiration
• decomposition
• combustion

Question 2

What percentage of carbon dioxide is stored in undersea algae, plants, coral, and in dissolved forms?

Answer 2

93%

Question 3

How is the movement of carbon within oceans controlled vertically?

Answer 3

carbon cycle pumps

Question 4

How is the movement of carbon with oceans controlled horizontally?

Answer 4

Thermohaline circulation.

Question 5

What do carbon pumps do?

Answer 5

Move carbon dioxide to the sea floor and the ocean surface to be released into the atmosphere.

Question 6

What are the 3 carbon cycle pumps?

Answer 6

• biological
• physical
• carbonate

Question 7

Outline the biological carbon pump?

Answer 7

1. Carbon is sequestered through photosynthesis by Phytoplankton and converted to organic matter
2. This transports carbon from the ocean surface to the intermediate and deep ocean stores.
3. When biological organisms die their cells/shells sink into the water. They also decay, which releases carbon into ocean stores.
4. The oceans regulate the carbon cycle by moving carbon from the ocean’s surface and storing it in the mid and deep ocean stores.

Question 8

Outline the carbonate pump?

Answer 8

1. Organisms die and start to sink. Their shells dissolve before they reach the ocean floor,so enters the deep ocean currents.
2. When carbon dioxide is dissolved in the oceans it reacts to form carbonic acid, then bicarbonates and carbonates, which are stored in the upper ocean.
3. The carbonates are used to make shells or skeletons for organisms.
4. When these organisms die, the material sinks to the ocean floor and forms the sediment store

Question 9

Outline the physical pump.

Answer 9

Dissolved carbon dioxide is taken from the surface to the intermediate and deep oceans through downwelling currents.
This carbon is then distributed by Thermohaline Circulation.

Question 10

Outline thermohaline circulation.

Answer 10

• Cold waters absorb more CO2 than warm waters.
• Equatorial waters moved towards the poles, so it’s more CO2 is absorbed.
• The salinity also increases, making the water denser so it sinks by downwelling, taking CO2 from the ocean surface to deep ocean stores.
• This allows more diffusion to occur at the surface, helping to regulate the carbon stored in the atmosphere.
• Some carbon is returned to the surface oceans through upwelling currents as a result of surface winds.

Question 11

How many carbon fluxes vary within biomes over time?

Answer 11

• diurnally
• seasonally