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geography > carbon cycle > Flashcards

carbon cycle Flashcards

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1
Q

name where the 3 main stores of carbon are

A

lithosphere

hydrosphere

pedosphere (soil)

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2
Q

name 2 uses of carbon as an economic resource

A

contained in fossil fuels
which are used as raw materials

used as fertiliser

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3
Q

what is the main importance of carbon globally

A

contributes to greenhouse effect

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4
Q

what is the carbon budget

A

balance between stores and sinks

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5
Q

what are the 3 main stores of carbon

A

marine and sedimentary rocks (69%)

oceans

fossil fuel deposits

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6
Q

where is carbon stored in each of the following

lithosphere

hydrosphere

biosphere

atmosphere

A

lith- sedimentary rock deposits

hydrosphere- surface layer of oceans

biosphere- organic matter in soils and living/ dead organisms

atmosphere- co2 in atmosphere

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7
Q

what is a flux

A

change in amount of carbon held in a store

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8
Q

describe the main steps in the slow carbon cycle

A

atmospheric co2 absorbed by oceans

co2 used by marine organisms to form shells

organisms die and sink to sea floor which forms sedimentary rock

tectonics subduct limestone into mantle and carbon is released in volcanoes

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9
Q

how long is carbon usually held in sedimentary rock

A

150 million years

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10
Q

describe the main steps in the fast carbon cycle

A

photosynthesis absorbs co2

respiration from plants and decomposition returns co2 back into atmosphere

carbon exchange occurs between atmosphere and oceans also

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11
Q

name the 3 main factors that have an effect on carbon stores

A

distribution of land and sea

distribution of fossil fuels

latitude and climate- determine characteristics of ecosystem

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12
Q

name 2 examples of how carbon is stored in the biosphere

A

living vegetation

peat

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13
Q

what is gross primary production

A

amount of carbon primary produced produce each year

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14
Q

what is carbon sequestration

A

describes the transfer of carbon from atmosphere to other stores

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15
Q

what are the 2 most important processes in the fast carbon cycle

A

photosynthesis and respiration

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16
Q

what is the average flux of carbon from photosynthesis each year

A

120 gigatones

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17
Q

what is biosynthesis

A

production of a new carbon compound by a living organism

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18
Q

what is net primary productivity

A

difference between amt of carbon taken in by photosynthesis and amount released by respiration

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19
Q

what happens to atmospheric co2 with rainwater

A

it dissolves it

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20
Q

what type of weathering releases carbon

A

carbonation

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21
Q

what is the physical ocean pump

A

mixing of surface and deep ocean waters

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22
Q

what is downwelling and what is it caused by

A

cold water is denser then warm water causing it to sink

co2 absorbed at surface is transported to deep waters by convection causing it to be stored in lower layers of ocean

23
Q

what is upwelling and what is it caused by

A

deep ocean currents transport co2 to surface

co2 diffuses out to atmosphere

24
Q

how does the biological pump work

A

microorganisms move carbon from atmosphere to deep ocean

phytoplankton near surface produce organic material by using dissolved co2

carbon in phytoplankton accumulates in sediments on sea floor

other organisms extract carbon from sea water to produce shells

decay releases c02 into deep water which gets trapped in sedimentary rocks for millions of years

25
Q

what influence does volcanic activity have on the carbon cycle

A

returns carbon to atmosphere that has been trapped in sedimentary rock for millions of years

26
Q

how do low latitudes influence carbon

A

due to increase in temp there is increased rates of photosynthesis and respiration

so more movement from atmosphere to biosphere

faster rates of decomposition faster carbon cycle overall

27
Q

how do high latitudes influence carbon

A

decreased photosynthesis and respiration

biosphere store goes to atmospheric and then into pedosphere

slower rate if decomposition

permafrost holds an extremely high amount of carbon

slower cycle overall

28
Q

how does liquid availability affect processes and stores

A

more water

more precipitation so more photosynthesis

more decomposition

more decomposition

more chemical weathering - lithosphere to hydro and atmosph
faster carbon cycle

29
Q

short term factors

what 2 diurnal changes affect carbon

what 2 seasonal changes affect carbon

A

day- more photosynthesis so more transfer from atmosphere to biosphere
night- no photosynthesis but respiration so biosphere to atmosphere and pedosphere

summer- increase in carbon stores in biosphere
winter- more respiration and decomposition

30
Q

long term factors

what are the main climate change factors that affect the carbon cycle

A

glacial - reduced temps

inter-glacial increased temps

volcanic activity

31
Q

what are the main impacts of glacial on carbon cycle

A

less co2 in atmosphere

more carbon stored in deep ocean

32
Q

what percentage of carbon release is land use change responsible for globally

A

10%

33
Q

what type of change does land use stores mainly affect

A

short term

34
Q

what cycle does urbanisation have an affect on

A

local carbon cycle

35
Q

why does urbanisation have an affect on land use stores

A

important stores are removed or covered up

36
Q

what impact does the clearance of forest for farming have on carbon

A

reduces storage so reduces biosphere store

37
Q

what is ploughing and how does it affect carbon

A

turning over of soil

exposes organic matter to oxidation causing it to decompose reducing pedosphere store

38
Q

what is the main source of carbon emissions on farms

A

artificial fertilisers as it increases atmospheric stores

39
Q

what impact does livestock have on carbon stores

A

release methane

40
Q

how much global methane production does rice contribute to

A

20%

41
Q

what impact does forestry have on carbon stores

A

increases biosphere carbon stores as trees sequester the carbon

42
Q

what is the downside to forest trees

A

they only are an active carbon sink for 100 years

43
Q

how much carbon dioxide emissions does deforestation account for

A

20%

44
Q

what s the impact of fossil fuels on the carbon cycle

A

increase atmospheric store which enhances greenhouse effect

45
Q

how much tonnes of co2 is due to fossil fuels each year

A

10 billion

46
Q

what is carbon capture and storage

A

attempt to reduce global carbon emissions by capturing carbon and storing it deep underground

47
Q

what is an example of a carbon capture scheme

A

boundary dam in canada

48
Q

what state is the global carbon cycle currently in

A

disequilibrium due to anthropogenic activity

49
Q

what is an example of a long term negative feedback carbon cycle

A

carbon fertilisation

50
Q

how does carbon fertilisation work

A

stimulates photosynthesis and stores carbon in biosphere

51
Q

explain the negative feedback loop of weathering

A

warmer temps

more precipitation

increase in chemical weathering

more carbon for marine organisms to build shells

organisms die and sink to floor increasing burial

52
Q

what is an example of a short term positive feedback loop for carbon

A

increase in global temps

53
Q

explain the short term positive feedback loop for increase in global temps

A

increase in global temps

increase in oceanic temp

warm water holds less co2

less co2 dissolved in oceans more co2 being released from ocean to atmosphere

so more co2 in atmosphere

54
Q
A

geography (9 decks)

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