Carbon

Question 1

6.2a - Where is carbon stored in the ocean and for how long?

Answer 1

Floor of the ocean 
Animals and plants that live there 
Shells 
Surface of the ocean layer - 10-100 years
Deep ocean

Question 2

6.2a - How does carbon get into the ocean?

Answer 2

Through

• rivers
• diffusion from the atmosphere

Question 3

6.2a - What are the three ways in which carbon moves in the ocean? (pumps)

Answer 3

Physical -
Biological - 1,000 years
Carbonate - 1,000-100,000 years

Question 4

6.2a - How does the biological pump work?

Answer 4

Every year phytoplankton move 2 billion metric tons of carbon

• phytoplankton absorb carbon to photosynthesise - when eaten carbon passed through the food chain
• co2 released when zooplankton/organisms respire
• consume fish - respire and die - decompose
• some organism eg Plankton move co2 truing carbon into their hard outer shells - when they die some of shells dissolve into ocean water

Question 5

6.2a - How does the carbonate pump work?

Answer 5

the processes which circulates carbon in oceans

• shallow ocean - likely to stay as shell and be crushed to rock
• deep ocean - may dissolve as there is less carbon - may form more CaCO3
• any dead organisms which sink to the seafloor become buried and compressed - eventually forming limestone sediments
• over a long period of time can turn into fossil fuels

Question 6

6.2a - How does the thermohaline circulation cycle work?

Answer 6

• Ocean currents that produces both vertical and horizonal circulation of cold and warm water around the worlds oceans
• rate of circulation is slow - takes around 100 years for any cubic metre of water to travel around the entire system
• Main current begins in polar oceans where water very cold - sinks due to higher density
• current recharged as passes
• Antarctica by extra cold, salty and dense water
• division of main current, northward into Indian Ocean and Western Pacific
• Two branches warm and rise
  Warmed surface waters continue to circulate around globe

Question 7

6.2a - How does the physical pump work?

Answer 7

Cold water absorbs more CO2 - warmer the water less co2 absorbed
Cold water sinks so moves carbon downwards to the deep ocean
Once there it moves slowly in deep water currents staying there for hundreds of years
The thermohaline circulation moves these deep ocean currents to the surface as the water rises it warms
Warmer water releases more co2

Question 8

6.3b - What is the formula for photosynthesis?

Answer 8

Plays a key role in keeping atmospheric CO2 levels constant

Carbon dioxide + water = Carbohydrate + Oxygen
Light and Chlorophyll

Question 9

6.3b - Assess the likely impacts of deforestation on the components of the carbon cycle

Answer 9

Large direct impact on above ground biomass
Large indirect impact on below ground biomass
Little impact on carbon emission into atmosphere but large reduction in absorption means large impact on atmosphere

Question 10

6.3b - What causes the amount of photosynthesis to vary?

Answer 10

• spatial, particularly with net primary productivity (NPP - amount of organic matter available for humans and other animals to harvest and consumer)
• NPP highest in the warm and wet parts of the world eg tropical rainforests - least in tundra and boreal forests

Question 11

6.3b - What does soil health depend on?

Answer 11

• Soil health depends on the amount of organic carbon stores in the soil
• storage amount depends on inputs (residues) and outputs (decomposition, erosion)
• carbon main component of soil organic matter and helps give its water retention capacity, structure and fertility
• healthy soil has large surface reservoir of available nutrients
• organic carbon concentrated in surface soil layer
• soil erosion major threat to carbon storage and soil health

Question 12

6.4a - What are the two ways in which consumption is looked at?

Answer 12

As a total in terms of units per GDP
Or
Per person

Question 13

6.4a - What is the energy mix?

Answer 13

How a countries energy supply is made up is terms of/refers to the range and proportion of energy produced by methods of production eg

• Domestic and foreign sources
• Primary and secondary energy
• Renewable vs non-renewable vs recyclable

Question 14

6.4a - How can energy consumption patterns can be looked at in 4 ways?

Answer 14

Total energy used
Types of primary energy sources used
How the energy is used
How efficiently they use the energy

Question 15

6.4a - How has world energy consumption changed since 1820?

Answer 15

• does not globally increase until 1900s
• initial shift mainly coal - 1860/70s - easier to get it
  1950s - increased massively - partly due to increasing pop and richer
• 80% of global energy consumption comes from fossil fuels even now

Question 16

6.4a - What is primary consumption and sources of electricity?

Answer 16

Primary consumption of a fuel is the source that we use for all energy uses
Sources of electricity is the sources that we use to create electricity
Primary energy sources
- coal accounts for 27% of global energy production - usage decreasing
- oil accounts for 32% of global energy production - usage still increasing
- solar energy rapidly increasing year on year as it becomes cheaper
- wind produces most energy of renewable sources - spreading to LICS and offshore is increasing too

Question 17

6.4b - What factors cause the use of energy in all countries to change over time?

Answer 17

• technological development
• increasing national wealth
• changes in demand/price
• enviro factors/public opinion changes

Question 18

6.4b - What does access to and consumption of energy resources depend on?

Answer 18

• Physical availability
• Cost and technology
• Public perception
• Level of economic development
• Environmental priorities

Question 19

6.6a - Is the UK energy secure?

Answer 19

Yes - consumers use less energy - require less energy easier to be secure - household use was 12, industry was 16%
Yes - diversified supply of energy - relying less on specific energy sources - renewable share of electricity generation increased to a record 335 in 2018

No - Importing more - nuclear energy stations shut down therefore have to import more - in 2000, 32% of total gas supply was provided by imported/gas
N0 - greater dependence on imported supplies/unaffordable prices of energy - price of global supplies are soaring - deficit of almost £10bil

Question 20

6.4a - Examples of recyclable and renewable energy

Answer 20

Recyclable - Nuclear power

Renewable - wind and solar

Question 21

6.4a - What energy source did each era use and why?

Answer 21

• Preindustrial - low, very few can access electricity - biomass as free
  Industrialising - much more richer and need to use for industry - coal cheap + easy to access, oil for transportation
  Industrialised - lower more enviro aware + energy efficient, richer so move away from coals to gas and renewables
  Post industrial - even lower - renewables

Question 22

6.4c - How are TNCs key energy players?

Answer 22

Most prominent energy players for a variety of reasons

• some have more economic value than a small country
• enables them to take action and invest in large-scale projects
• can bypass political tensions and access sources otherwise restricted to other countries
• may be inclined to invest in local infrastructure
• may encourage enviro degradation, exploit, unsustainable transport

Question 23

6.4c - How is OPEC a key energy player?

Answer 23

Cartel in which member countries export oil and petroleum

• control 81% of the worlds discovered oil reserves
• control oil prices and supply
• however have been accused of holding back production in order to increase prices and in turn increase profits
• can be detrimental to developing countries who need vast and cheap amounts of oil and countries who rely on oil for energy

Question 24

6.4c - How are national governments key energy players?

Answer 24

• try to secure energy supplies for their country
• regulate the role of private companies to make sure they do not exploit consumers and offer a fair price
• Eu gov try to reduce c02 emissions and dependency on fossil fuels
• energy crisis in UK - put cap on energy prices

Question 25

6.4c - How are consumers key energy players?

Answer 25

• create demand with purchasing choices based on price
• more educated - change in habits - locally sourced, enviro friendly and reliable
• Have an impact on TNCs and what they produce
• can force govs and TNCs to move towards renewables

Question 26

6.4c - What is the governments role in energy supply?

Answer 26

• helps to regulate and improve energy supplies
• help to invest into renewables and change laws to stop certain energy sources being used
• as more consumers want govs to shift to renewables energy forces gov to invest and gives them more responsibility to do so

Question 27

6.4c - What is the role of TNCs in energy supply?

Answer 27

• to produce energy
• many oil and gas companies fun political parties in order to exert their influence
• climate change is causing a shift to renewables forcing TNCs to invest into them

Question 28

6.4c - What is the role of consumers in energy supply?

Answer 28

• to consumer energy
• dictate how much demand there is for energy - pretty influential on the supply and price of oil
• due to climate change many are trying to limit or reduce their consumption of energy and demand for a switch to renewable energy

Question 29

6.4c - What is the role of OPEC in energy supply?

Answer 29

• control output and prices when selling to oil-consuming nations - have a hand in supply
• control over 40% of the world’s oil supply and are bale to control output and apply export quotas on member countries to reduce supply if price goes too low
• oil price has fluctuated a great deal suggesting that OPEC doesnt have complete control of the world market for oil especially during times of recession

Question 30

6.6a - What are some new developments of the renewable energy sources?

Answer 30

• solar - concentrated solar power, solar powered roads and roof tiles
• wind - larger vlades, offshore, vortex bladeless
• wave - econ wave power, pelamis wave power
• tidal power - tidal stream
• geothermal - enhanced geothermal systems

Question 31

6.6a - What is solar power?

Answer 31

panels that convert the suns energy into electricity

• cost decreasing rapidly
• large potential in desert areas
• not very efficent yet (15-20%)
• effectiveness dependent on climate and time of year and day

Question 32

6.6a - What is wind power?

Answer 32

wind drives large turbines and generators that produce electricity

• low running costs
• can be used year round
• plenty of suitable sites
• bird life can be affected
• weather dependent

Question 33

6.6a - What is nuclear power?

Answer 33

• considered to be a recyclebale energy source
• very low carbon footprint
• high efficiency
• Safety always improving
• Fewer negative impacts than fossil fuels
• Tech becoming more affordable and accessible
• Large-scale disasters do occur
• Produces radioactive waste which is difficult to dispose of
• Very high cost
• Lack of support from general public

Question 34

6.6a - What are the economic, social and enviro costs and benefits of wind energy?

Answer 34

Econ - Cost dropping to £100/MWh by 2020 - Cheaper than gas for electricity generation - Onshore wind farms can be constructed in months
- Can interfere with radar and aircraft navigation if near airport could cause planes to be grounded causing losses - Potential for communication links such as mobile phone networks

Social - Helps fuel jobs in the local economy - employment in the offshore wind in the UK has increased with 7,200 full time workers in 2019
- Can generate noise pollution for locals living near wind farms -May be an eyesore for the local community

Enviro - Does not release carbon emissions - Very clean energy does not release air pollution or waste
- Can cause injuries or deaths of wildlife in the air - mostly birds and pigeons through collision - Can be harmful to bats - location needs to be assessed and considered beforehand

Question 35

6.6a - What are the economic, social and enviro costs and benefits of solar energy?

Answer 35

Econ - Sustainable source - can be relied on - Can be used in poorer countries
Links well with other sources of energy- Solar farms can be constructed in weeks
- Not enough research and development especially into storage methods - Electricity produced is initially more expensive than from conventional power stations - Not very effective in cloudy climates or polar latitudes

Social - Flexible and modular so can be used on roofs - easy to install and use- Helps fuel jobs in the installation of panels and creation of solar farms- Lower energy bills
- Takes up a lot of space that could have been used for homes - if a farm - May be an eyesore for the local community - Can be expensive by getting cheaper

Enviro - Safe, clean and non-polluting once made and installed - Doesn’t take up land when installed on rooftops or in remote areas
- Takes up a lot of space/could disturb local wildlife depending where it is installed

Question 36

6.6a - What are the economic, social and enviro costs and benefits of nuclear energy?

Answer 36

Econ - Next gen of nuclear reactors will be cleaner, more cost-efficient and cost less to decommission than existing ones - Tried, tested and broadly safe tech - Can help reduce dependence on imported energy
- Costs rising rapidly - insurance, waste, management, construction and security - Any investment in nuclear = money denied to developing and promoting renewable energy

Social - Helps fuel jobs - Has a steady cost of base-load electricity
- Nuclear waste is an unsolved problem and can remain radioactive for up to 10,000 years - if accident occurs can cause people to have to move away from their homes - can kill people as well

Enviro - If waste is properly managed - no damage to local enviro - Low carbon power generation methods of producing electricity
- Mining, extracting and processing and transporting nuclear fuel produces CO2 emissions at every stage - If an accident occurs waste is thrown into enviro - causes large amount of enviro damage

Question 37

6.6a - What contribution has wind, solar and nuclear energy made to energy security globally and in the UK?

Answer 37

Wind - onshore and offshore energy been largest share (9.5%) of UK power mix

• turbines out at sea makes it so on less windy days wind can still be accessed through deep waters
• however only useful to countries that have access to sea/coast
• globally will only be beneficial to those who have a suitable climate for it

Solar - increased by 38.2% in 2014 in UK
- increasingly being used globally but not much of an option for countries that are mostly cloudy and do not have a lot of sun

Nuclear - constant fluctuation in popularity
- others miss out due to fears of accidents
- France and china increasing their nuclear energy while Japan and Germany and UK reducing theirs
UK still reliant on Norway for most of its imported energy