carbon budget Flashcards
enhanced greenhouse effect
climate change from additional heat retained due to increase in co2 and other greenhouse gases that humans have released into atmospher
geo sequestation
technology capturing GHG emissions from power stations and pumping them underground
radiactive forcing
difference in incoming solar energy absorbed and energy radiated back
soil organic carbon
organic constituent in soil, tissues from dead plant animals and products produced as these decompose in soil microbial biomass
carbon budget
amount carbon stored or transferring within carbon cycle
petagrams
most in crust and ocean
low in atm/plant as active
carbon budget input output
Inputs = volcanic eruption, burn fossil fuels, respiration, ocean loss
Outputs = photosynthesis, sequestration, decomposition, chemical weathering , ocean uptake
impact on lands
Earth warms
ice caps melt
absorb more radiation
earth warm more
Inc co2
melting permafrost
release methane
more ghg in atmosphere contribute to global warming
Wildfires vegetation releases carbon to atmosphere
Ocean acts carbon sink
absorb carbon as atmospheric co2 increases
ocean absorb more in return reduce atmospheric co2 reducing rates global warming
Plants remove co2, as levels co2 increase plants will absorb more
any of land feedback nullifies
Efforts reduce ghg emissions will help reduce greenhouse gases so less ice caps will melt. Wont be nullified
Anthropogenic activity eg fossil fuel increases so release more ghg to atmosphere and plants can only take in so much so more is released than taken in
carbon fertilisation
Process where plants use inc co2 levels in atmosphere so enhance growth and productivity
Plants photosynthesis more so more co2 converted to sugars so more growth
why cant plants keep growing
Inc co2 plants draw more nutrients from soil to allow inc growth, if run out then no matter level of carbon then growth cannot continue
impact inc temp grow season then carbon
inc length growing season and warmer
Plants can grow into other seasons and locations that wouldn’t normally
Inc photosynthesis and growth and increased decomposition releasing co2
Increase pests and yields so less carbon released as less photosynthesis
Increased temp can reduce growth drier so less plants so less taken in
Wetter then increase plant growth and more intake
factors affect plant growth
Water – rainfall patterns lead to scarcer in some arears drier
Nutrients availability
Drier soil reduces nutrient cycling so less decomposition and less co2 released
impact intensive farming
Intensive farming means more artificial fertilisers used which inc co2 emissions
2.6gt carbon produced each year from artificial fertilisers
But more growth plant so more carbon taken in by photosynthesis
More emissions from tractors
water scarcity impact
less plants grow
less photosynth
more atm
dry
wildfire
atm
impact on ocean
acidifiation
acidification link carb cycle
Ocean carbon sink
So lots taken in so less carbon in atmosphere and more into ocean
reef impact acid + warm
Ocean acidic it breaks down coral so carbon is released into ocean
+
Coral live 23 to 29 degrees
If too hot, then they expel symbiotic algae that lives in tissues which gives them their colour
Bleaching
Sustained bleaching kills the corals
Coral stores carbon so if killed then more carbon released to ocean
poles impact acid
Plants in the ocean will not be able to live meaning less carbon will be sequester as there will be less photosynthesis so less carbon taken in
Shells will dissolve meaning animals who live in shells wont be protected, exposing them to predators
rock impact acid
Carbonate ions would be less abundant.
This is because the sea is acidic meaning it has lots of H+ ions so carbonate ions react with the excess H+ ions in the ocean meaning there is less calcium carbonate therefore there is less shells
Dissolve more carbon so more in ocean
warm ocean impact phytoplankton hence carbon + inc atm co2
phytoplankton grow better in colder waters
Inc ocean temp alters ocean currents so less welling up of nutrients from deep ocean so fewer phytoplankton so carbon taken up
+
More co2 in ocean means increased growth phytoplankton
Co2 essential for growth so help fertilise species of phytoplankton so boost overall population
melt ice impact
Sea ice has albedo 40% so reflect more solar energy that hits surface
Open water has lower albedo 3% so solar energy absorbed so warming amplified.
As ice melts more open water exposed so positive feedback cycle
dec algae impact
40% drop in phytoplankton since 1950
As algae is primary producer it provides nutrients from range primary consumers like zooplankton small fish and crustaceans
Reduce algae means species that feed on it will have less food available so decline in population
Same effect further up food chain
Less marine organisms in sea so decreased oceanic carbon levels due to less respiration
why salinity dec + climate impact
Global warming cause melt ice caps and glaciers which releases fresh water to ocean which dilutes salt concentration, so less saline conditions specifically near poles
Changes in salinity change density sea water so currents change which transport heat and nutrients so this stimulates more climate change due to change in patterns
ocean conveyor belt
Belt of constantly moving system deep ocean circulation driven by temperature and salinity
Moves water and nutrients around the world to supply organisms
