carbon cycle Flashcards
what is the carbon cycle?
the cycling nutrients in the biosphere
what are nutrients?
chemicals required for organism growth and life processes.
where are nutrients accumulated in?
in “stores” for varying periods of time.
examples of stores?
-atmoshphere
-oceans
-land (masses,grassland,lithosphere)
nutrients in - store - nutrients out
nutrients stores in balance, nutrient into a store are equal to the nutrients out creating a nutrient cycle.
human activites on nutrient cycles are….
mining industry, land clearing, agriculture, urban expansion, transportation
how do we put the nutrient cycle out of balance
we introduce nutrients into the nutrient cycle faster than natural processes can put nutrients back into stores.. this greatly affects our environment
short term stores?
-vegetation (b)
-animals (b)
-decaying matter (b)
-CO2 gas in atmosphere (a)
-dissolved carbon in top layers of ocean (h)
long term stores?
-dissolved carbon in mid-deep layers of ocean (h)
-coal deposits (g)
photosynthesis?
converts light energy +CO2 to chemical energy (glucose) for plants and producers to use
celluar respiration? (u better get this right u stupid bitch)
process used by plants and animals to release energy from glucose to be used for growth, repair, and other life functions.
decomposition?
decomposers break down dead plant cellulose to release CO2.
ocean processes?
CO2 that dissolves into the cold northern waters will flow to the tropies (towards the equator) where it gets released. this process is known as ocean mixing.
eruptions and forest fires?
volcanic eruptions and large scale forest fires release CO2 human contributions to carbon cycle.
what increases CO2 in atmosphere?
mining industries, land clearing, agriculture, urban expansion, and transportation increases amount of CO2 in atmosphere.
