Biosphere and Carbon Cycle

Question 1

main types of fossil fuels

Answer 1

• oil & its derivatives
• natural gas
• coal
• cement production

Question 2

describe the effect of land use changes on carbon

Answer 2

• deforestation –> replaced land can’t absorb as much CO2

Question 3

define respiration

Answer 3

• opposite of photosynthesis, humans breathe in oxygen and release CO2

Question 4

describe how seasonal growth affects the atmospheric CO2

Answer 4

• seasons where plants bloom –> more plants to absorb CO2 –> less in the atmosphere
• seasons where plants die –> less plants to absorb CO2 –> more in the atmosphere

Question 5

name some natural carbon reserviors

Answer 5

atmosphere, plants/soil, oceans

Question 6

largest natural carbon sink

Answer 6

ocean

Question 7

describe oceanic uptake

Answer 7

• elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations –> more dissolves in seawater than normal –> extra carbon transformed to other molecules and ions –> taken up by marine organisms –> buried in deep sea sediments as organisms die -
• slow reaction with these sediments removes CO2 from the ocean

Question 8

describe reforestation

Answer 8

re-planting forests to absorb anthropogenic carbon

Question 9

where do the anthropogenic CO2 emissions go

Answer 9

• about half into the atmosphere, half absorbed

- absorbed equally in oceans & plants

Question 10

how have oceanic and terrestrial sinks reacted to increasing carbon levels

Answer 10

grown, but tbd if this will continue