Biological processes

Question 1

Biological pump

Answer 1

Phytoplankton absorbs CO2 via photosynthesis, increasing biomass.
The phytoplankton becomes basis of food chain, eaten, into the biosphere.

Most of the CO2 taken up by phytoplankton is recycled near the surface. About 30% sinks into deeper waters before being converted back into carbon dioxide by marine bacteria.

Question 2

Carbonate pump

Answer 2

Calcium carbonate found in hard outer shells and skeleton of deceased animals, fall to bottom of ocean, where most shells dissolve, rest the weight of water turn the skeletons into rock e.g. limestone at white cliffs of dover. Biosphere into lithosphere.

Question 3

Physical pump

Answer 3

Co2 moved around the ocean in downwelling and upwelling currents.

Downwelling = ocean where cold, denser water sinks.
These currents bring dissolved bring dissolved carbon dioxide down to the deep ocean. E.g. Arctic

Once there, it moves in slow-moving deep ocean currents, staying there for hundreds of years.

Eventually, these deep ocean currents, part of the thermohaline circulation, return to the surface by upwelling.

The cold deep ocean water warms as it rises towards the ocean surface and some of the dissolved carbon dioxide is released back into the atmosphere. E.g. high latitude areas

Question 4

What does photosynthesis maintain and depend on?

Answer 4

Regulate CO2 levels and earths temperature

Varies depending on NPP (NET PRIMARY PRODUCTION) - amount of CO2 for living matter.

NPP highest in warm wet areas

Question 5

What does soil health depend on?

Answer 5

Amount of organic CO2 in soil - depending on balance between inputs and outputs.

Healthy soil = Large surface area with nutrients.