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Edexcel A-level Geography > Carbon Cycle > Flashcards

Carbon Cycle Flashcards

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1
Q

What was the name of the legal deal signed in 2015 about climate change?

A

COP21

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2
Q

How many countries signed COP21?

A

195

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3
Q

Why do oil prices fluctuate?

A

Geopolitical factors - if a country wants to block another or sanction another

Economic factors - supply and demand can cause oil prices to rise or fall

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4
Q

How has fracking in North America affected oil prices?

A

Caused them to fall dramatically

USA is largest energy consumer and so had to import a lot of oil and gas which was expensive

Domestic sources cut out transport costs, making prices fall

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5
Q

What is the geological carbon cycle?

A

The cycle of carbon between land, oceans and the atmosphere

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6
Q

What are the two types of carbon in the geological carbon cycle?

A

Geological carbon - stored in sedimentary and carbonate rocks

Biologically derived carbon - stored in shale, coal, etc

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7
Q

What are the two main ways of maintaining equilibrium in the carbon cycle?

A

Outgassing - carbon from the mantle is released by volcanos as CO2

Chemical weathering - where atmospheric CO2 combines with rain water to for carbonic acid which dissolves carbonate rocks

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8
Q

What is the bio-geochemical carbon cycle?

A

The transfer of carbon between living and chemical stores

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9
Q

What are the 4 main processes in the bio-geochemical carbon cycle?

A

Photosynthesis
Respiration
Decomposition
Combustion

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10
Q

How does the amount of carbon transferred from fossil fuel combustion relate to the amounts transferred naturally?

A

It is a very small percentage of natural transfer

However it is still enough to trigger effects such as climate change

Proves how delicate of an equilibrium the carbon cycle is in

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11
Q

What are the 3 ways carbon can be found?

A

Inorganic - rocks, etc

Organic - natural and plant material

Gaseous - found in atmosphere as CO2 and CH4

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12
Q

What is the biological carbon pump?

A

The way in which carbon is transferred from the ocean into the atmosphere and vice versa

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13
Q

What are phytoplankton?

A

Photosynthetic organisms that live in the surface layers of the ocean

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14
Q

Describe what is meant by the sequestration

A

The processes by which carbon moves through different stores and fluxes

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15
Q

How do phytoplankton sequester carbon?

A

They absorb CO2 for photosynthesis

They then grow and develop and use some carbon to make their carbonate shells

When they die they sink to the sea floor and accumulate where over millions of years they become carbonate rocks

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16
Q

How is carbon sequestered terrestrially?

A

Plants perform photosynthesis to convert CO2 into organic carbon

Primary consumers eat the plants

Secondary and tertiary consumers eat the primary consumers

The consumers die

Decomposition or non decomposition takes place

Carbon is transferred

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17
Q

How do mangroves sequester carbon from the atmosphere into the soil?

A

Photosynthesis to convert CO2 into organic carbon

Plant grows

Leaves and branches fall off

They decompose and are buried into the soil

This stores the carbon there

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18
Q

Compare the efficacy of soil as a carbon store in Tundra and Rainforest biomes

A

Rainforests have very deep soil and the trees are much larger so drop more organic matter. As a result, much more carbon can be stored here

in Tundra, much of the soil is frozen (permafrost). So, microbe activity only takes place in the very top layer of the soil.
Less decomposition can occur and as a result less carbon can be stored

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19
Q

Why do we need natural greenhouse gasses?

A

Because they absorb and re-emit heat back towards earth.

It keeps earth’s temperature more than 16 degrees warmer than it would be otherwise

This allows earth to sustain life

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20
Q

What percentage of CO2 emissions come from burning fossil fuels?

A

75%

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21
Q

What natural process is essential to maintaining the composition of the atmosphere? Explain why?

A

Photosynthesis

It pumps CO2 from the atmosphere into different stores such as the ocean or the soil

Without it CO2 concentrations would rise even quicker and global warming would be increased

22
Q

What is primary productivity?

A

The rate at which an area produces biomass

23
Q

Which biomes have the highest and lowest primary productivity?

A

Highest = Rainforest

Lowest = Desert or Tundra

24
Q

What are the implications of fossil fuel exploitation?

A

Unbalancing the carbon cycle - It is in equilibrium, burning fossil fuels throws it off and can have long term impacts

Arctic Amplification - The arctic is warming at 2x the average global rate, this is causing snow melt and releasing trapped greenhouse gasses

Climate - Europe is getting much hotter year by year. Impacting the local ecosystems. More extreme weather patterns such as hurricanes

Hydrological cycle - The increased snow melt in certain areas could unbalance the hydrological cycle causing periods of extreme flooding or drought

25
Q

What does the level of energy consumption depend on?

A

Lifestyle - more consumerism = more consumption

Climate - Extreme hot or cold = more consumption

Technology

Availability - more availability = more consumption

Demand - more demand = more consumption

26
Q

What happens to energy consumption as countries become more developed?

A

Energy consumption increases

More people have more disposable income to spend on luxuries such as more hot water and air con/ central heating.

e.g Rising middle classes of Asia

27
Q

What is an energy mix?

A

The proportion of a country’s energy consumption that comes from different stores

28
Q

What are primary energy sources?

A

Energy sources consumed in their raw from

e.g fossil fuels such as petrol or coal

29
Q

What are secondary energy sources?

A

Energy sources that can be used to generate electricity

e.g Wind or Solar power

30
Q

What are domestic energy sources?

A

Energy sources that are produced and consumed in the same country

e.g North Sea oil for the UK

31
Q

What’re overseas energy sources?

A

Energy sources that are imported from other countries

e.g UK imports lots of oil from Russia

32
Q

Why might it not be beneficial to use overseas energy sources more than domestic ones

A

Creates an energy deficit

This creates a country more energy insecure as if the country they are importing from decides to increase prices they have no choice but to comply

e.g Uk is energy dependent on Russia. Ukraine invasion left the UK in a vulnerable position

33
Q

What are Recyclable energy sources?

A

Energy that can be reused more than 1 time.

e.g Reprocessed uranium and plutonium from nuclear power

34
Q

What are the 6 main factors that determine a country’s energy mix?

A

Physical availability

Cost

Technology

Political Considerations

Economic Development

Environmental Priorities

35
Q

Describe the trends in both fossil fuel and energy consumption in the UK in recent years

A

Consumption is decreasing for both

However still too high to be sustainable and environmentally safe

36
Q

Who are the 4 main players in securing energy pathways?

A

Energy TNCs

OPEC (oil-producing and exporting countries)

National governments

Consumers

37
Q

Give examples of Energy TNCs (both old and new players)

A

Old: BP, Shell, Exxon/Mobil

New: Gazprom, Petrobas

38
Q

What is the relationship between development and energy consumption?

A

As development increases so does energy consumption

39
Q

What drove the rapid increase in global energy consumption since the 1990’s?

A

China’s rapid economic growth

40
Q

What are energy pathways?

A

The way in which energy flows from its source to its consumer

41
Q

How can disruption to shipping routes affect global oil prices? give a named example

A

Most oil is shipped on tankers

20% of these tankers pass the Straight of Hormuz

If this gets blocked then supply is shortened and price increases

42
Q

Give an example of a political conflict that is said to involve oil

A

The USA and Russia’s involvement in the Syrian war

Many say it is to secure oil supplies and construct pipelines to Europe

43
Q

Why are countries developing ‘unconventional’ fossil fuels? give an example of where this is occurring

A

To try and produce more domestic energy

Increases their energy security

e.g Canada exploiting tar sands
USA exploiting shale gas (by fracking)

44
Q

Give some examples of ‘unconventional’ fossil fuels

A

Deep water oil
Tar sands
Shale gas
Oil shale

45
Q

Who are the players in Canada exploiting tar sands?

A

Governments

Oil companies

Environmental pressure groups

Local communities

46
Q

What are the costs and benefits of Canada’s tar sand exploitation?

A

Costs:

5-10 times more expensive than extraction oil
Very energy and water-intensive
Produces lots of toxic waste
Deforestation and loss of Peat bogs

Benefits:

Increases energy security
Can serve as a fuel stopgap while renewables become more available
Boosts local and national economies
Provides jobs for locals

47
Q

How is the UK changing its energy mix?

A

By reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels:

Increasing renewables, (northern array wind farm)
Developing Nuclear energy (Hinkley Point C)
Reducing energy use (tech like LED bulbs)
Recycling more energy

48
Q

What is the strike price?

A

The amount a government offers an energy company per MwH for a certain energy type

49
Q

What are the pros and cons of using Biofuels instead of petrol?

A

Pros:

emits 80% less CO2 than petrol
In Brazil has cut CO2 emissions by 350 million tonnes
Reduces global warming

Cons:

Deforestation to plant the crops required
In Brazil, farmworkers were forced to grow sugar cane and were less able to grow food for their families

50
Q

How carbon neutral are biofuels?

A

Not very

Plants need pesticides and fertiliser made from fossil fuels

Deforestation to grow crops removes carbon sinks

Some biofuels (like rapeseed oil) emit more carbon than petrol

51
Q

What is CCS?

A

Carbon capture and storage

CO2 from coal power plants is compressed and transported underground

It is then injected into underground reservoirs e.g aquifers

Not financially viable to do on a large scale

Edexcel A-level Geography (8 decks)

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