carbon budget Flashcards
1
Q
carbon budget=
A
the difference between the inputs and outputs- this determines whether a subsystem will be a carbon source or sink
2
Q
ocean acidification- IMPACTS ON OCEAN
A
- 30% of the co2 from atmosphere goes into the oceans
- dissolving co2 creates carbonic acid so the oceans become more acidic
- carbonate atoms are needed for species of coral to create their shells, if there’s less of it available their shells are thinner and more fragile
- reef lost affects coastal communities and ecosystems
3
Q
ocean warming- IMPACTS ON OCEANS
A
- increased water temps could decrease phytoplankton-this could limit the oceans ability to take carbon from atmosphere to the biological pump
- it also kills symbiotic algae which coral needs in order to grow=this leads to the bleaching of reefs
4
Q
melting sea ice- IMPACTS ON OCEANS
A
- in the last 35 years, Artic sea ice has retreated by 40%
- sea ice provides a unique habitat for algae which is more concentrated in ice
- the loss of this algae affects marine animals
5
Q
how much do sea levels rise
A
3.5 mm a year
6
Q
impacts on land
A
- co2 allows plants to grow
- changes in co2 on land can reduce the amount stored in the land-warmer temps cause permafrost to melt so carbon is released into the atmosphere
- it can also increase the frequency of wildfires
7
Q
impacts on the atmosphere
A
- ENHANCED GREENHOUSE GASES= where co2 and other ghg in the atmosphere are causing radiactive forcing
- the concept of this is where energy is constantly flowing in the atmosphere in the form of sunlight
- some is reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed by the earth-concentration of ghg causes temps to rise
