carbon cycle Flashcards
name all the transfers of carbon
photosynthesis
respiration
decomposition
combustion
sequestration
advantages of carbon sequestration
fitted into existing power statins
captures up to 90% of CO2 prduced
potential to capture half of worlds CO2 emissions
disadvantages of carbon sequestration
increased energy demand for power statins
may be not enough space
ecnomically viable as pushes oil down increasing use of fossil fuels
carbon sink
store which absorbs more carbon than it gives out
carbon source
emits more carbon than it stores
what are the main carbon stores (order of mag)
sedimentary rock 600-100,000 million billin tones
oceans
fossil fuel deposits
organic matter
atmosphere
plants 560 b mega tonnes
how much carbon has been lost in brazil and indonesia due t deforestation
5 Gtc in 25 years
how do wildfires change the carbn cycle
transfer carbon from biosphere t atmosphere
burning can encourage plant growth in long term
hwever they burn huses
How do volcanoes change the carbon cycle
transfers from the lithosphere to atmosphere
sulphur dioxide blocks sunlight and reduces rate of photosynthesis
Deforestation impact on the carbon cycle
slash and burn techniques and interrupting the forest carbon cycle, rapid rease of C02
explain the process of respiration (4)
-occurs when plants and animals convert oxygen and glucose into energy
-this produces the waste product of CO2
-oxygen+glucose + carbon dioxide + water
-plants absorb more CO2 than they emit
explain the process of combustion (4)
-fuels an trees are burnt
-they emit CO2 that was locked in them to the atmosphere
-due to fossil fuels e.g gas oil coal, being burnt for energy
-may also occur during wildfires
explain the process of decomposition (4)
-organisms die and get consumed by bacterias and fungi
-carbon from there bodys is return to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide
-some organic matter passes into the soil where it is stored for years
how much carbon is held in the lithosphere
99%
how much carbon is held in the hydrosphere
o.oo7%
how much carbon is held in the cryosphere
o.oo3%
explain the impact of the carbon cycle on the land
-it warms the earths surface increases plant growth/photsynthesis
-carbon is stored as biomass
-carbon is rapidly recycled through organic systems
explain the impact of the carbon cycle on the ocean
-the ocean absorbs a lot of c02 which is absorbed by phytoplanktons by phtosynthesis
-dissolved carbon accumulates on sediments on the shallow seas leading to natural sequestration
explain the impact of the carbon cycle on the atmosphere
-usually in the form of CO2 or CH4
-C02 combines with water molecules and clouds to form carbonic acid making naturally acidic rain
-this leads to terrestrial weathering
what are the two outputs of carbon in the atmosphere
absorbstion from the vegetation
atmosphere-ocean gas exchange
role of carbon and water supporting life on earth
-co2,water and sunlight are all required for photosynthesis
-warming of earth by natural greenhouse effect
-water moves nutrients in and out of aquatic ecosystems
how much does CO2 contribute to the enhanced greenhouse effect
20%
how much water vapour accounts for greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
50%
role of CO2 in greenhouse gases
sets the temperature and controls how much water vapour
