Carbon cycle

Question 1

2 ways that carbon can be emitted by geological processes:

Answer 1

Chemical weathering - dissolving of calcium carbonate rocks from acid rain that releases carbon (tall cliffs of St Oswalds Bay, Dorset)

Outgassing - CO2 stored within magma released by volcanic eruptions, as well as subduction zones and geysers (e.g. in Iceland)

Question 2

Biological pump in oceans explained:

Answer 2

CO2 in atmosphere can be consumed by phytoplankton that use it for
photosynthesis

When they die the carbon stored in their bodies is transferred to the deep ocean

Question 3

Carbonate pump in oceans explained:

Answer 3

Chemical weathering can wash carbon based molecules into the sea through rivers

These react with CO2 in water to form calcium carbonate, used by some marine organisms to make shells
When these die they sink to bottom of ocean and sediment rich in calcium carbonate is left

Question 4

Physical pump in oceans explained:

Answer 4

Cold water has a greater capacity to hold CO2 than warm water, sinks and held under pressure by water above it

Thermohaline circulation moves warmer water into cooler areas of world, as warm water cools the CO2 sinks to the deeper waters

In the other way around when cooler waters move towards the warmer waters it causes CO2 to rise near surface, could be released into atmosphere or absorbed by phytoplankton

Question 5

3 infrastructures used to transfer energy:

Answer 5

.Gas and oil pipelines that cross continents as well as seas
.Transmission lines that transfer electricity
.Shipping routes that transport natural gas, oil and coal

Question 6

4 factors that can interrupt energy pathways:

Answer 6

Conflict : pirates are known to operate off the coast of Somalia, targeting tankers leaving middle eastern countries

Hazards : earthquakes or extreme temperatures

Time : Pipelines and transmission lines can
become damaged over time

Chokepoints : the Panama canal providing a passageway between Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, can sometimes get congested which slows the ships down, causing energy prices to rise

Over half the world’s oil goes through chokepoints, narrow sea channel where key transport routes can be disrupted

Question 7

Examples of major pipelines:

Answer 7

1) Yamal-Europe pipeline connecting gas reserves of Western Siberia, Russia to Germany
2)Kazakhstan-China transports oil from western Kazakhstan to western China
3)Trans-Mediterranean is a gas pipeline from Algeria to Italy

Question 8

4 main unconventional fossil fuel sources:

Answer 8

-Fracking to extract natural gas
-Tar sands to extract oil
-Oil shale to extract oil
-Deep water oil, drilling to extract oil

Question 9

Canadian tar sands facts:

Answer 9

Canada holds world’s largest tar sand reserves.
Exploitation of the tar sands has produced high levels of income, employed 400 000 people.
However produces contaminated wastewater, groups of indigenous people forced to move out, new vegetation growth is impossible and aquatic life can be killed.

Question 10

USA fracking facts:

Answer 10

Mainly done in Texas and Colorado.
Large areas of vegetation removed, causing destruction of habitats and wildlife to move out.
Also causes increased air pollution, releases methane and other gases.

Question 11

Deep water oil (USA and Brazil) facts:

Answer 11

Brazil currently rely on HEP but there are concerns that climate change will affect flow of rivers and ability of dams to generate power.
Deep water oil helps make Brazil and USA more energy secure.
Deep water drilling can be dangerous, explosions and spillages can occur, BP spillage in 2010 spilled 200 million gallons of oil, it is also very expensive.

Question 12

4 alternatives of fossil fuels and examples:

Answer 12

1)Nuclear power - Hinckley point C in UK
2)Wind power - Hornsea project 1 in UK
4)Solar power - Chapel lane solar farm, serving 75% of houses in Bournemouth
4)Biofuels - Brazil first in the world, producing fuel out of sugar canes

Question 13

Amazon drought events:

Answer 13

Climate change has affected evapotranspiration and rainfall patterns in tropical rainforests.
Amazon experienced droughts in 2005 and 2010.
Photosynthesis slowed down during the droughts and less carbon removed.
Forest wildfires causing more carbon to be released.

Question 14

3 ways that human activities have increased carbon released into atmosphere:

Answer 14

.Dying of phytoplankton
.Melting of glaciers
.Removal of vegetation

Question 15

Case study of global agreement regarding carbon emissions:

Answer 15

Paris agreement in 2015 established by the UN involving 195 countries

-Aiming to limit the average global temperature increase to 1.5 C above pre industrial levels
-Provide adaptation support for developing countries

Question 16

Disadvantages of Paris Agreement:

Answer 16

-Reducing carbon emissions can cause unemployment for example in Australia it would put coal miners out of work
-Could threaten developing countries’ economic growth for example 66% of India’s energy needs are met by coal and demand could increase from rise in middle class
-Reduced carbon emissions can also increase TNC’s manufacturing costs
-Results can be deceptive, e.g. fall in CO2 emissions across EU in 2014-15 was due to warmer winter rather than changing attitudes

Question 17

What does the Kuznets curve show?

Answer 17

The relationship between environmental degradation and economic development

Question 18

UK energy mix:

Answer 18

.Plans to close all coal power stations by 2025
.60% of energy resources are imported, overseas companies decide which energy sources are used so it’s energy insecure
.Investing in nuclear energy, Hinckley Point C that will produce 7% of UK power

Question 19

Norway energy mix:

Answer 19

-Mountainous and has lots of rainfall so HEP is the natural energy choice
-Oil, natural gas and coal from Norway is exported for revenue
-Deepwater drilling technology enabled Norway and UK to extract North sea oil and gas

Question 20

Germany’s ‘Energiewende’ project explained:

Answer 20

-Aimed to phase out nuclear energy, last 3 nuclear power plants were shut down in 2023
-By 2050 80% of its energy is supposed to come from renewables, increases in wind and solar energy use

Question 21

Adaptation strategies examples:

Answer 21

1)Water conservation and management
2)Resilient agricultural systems
3)Land use planning and flood-risk management
4)Solar radiation management

Question 22

Case study for water conservation and management (Israel):

Answer 22

.Smart irrigation - system of pipes and valves that help water drip slowly into plants’ roots, reduces wastage and evaporation
.Piping seawater from Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea to desalination plants
.Smart pricing as well as importing products with high virtual water content to reduce agricultural consumption

Question 23

Case study for agricultural systems:

Answer 23

.No ploughing approach which reduces use of fertilizers, improves soil health and water conservation, done by USA
.Drought resistant crops grown in Sub-Saharan Africa

Question 24

Amount of energy that came from renewables in 2015 (UK):

Answer 24

25%, first year where renewable resources provided more electricity than coal

Question 25

Facts about UK importing oil and gas:

Answer 25

.50% of crude oil imports came from Norway by 2015, but Norway now provides less than it used to, leading to OPEC suppliers taking advantage of this shortfall
.Most gas comes through pipelines under the North Sea. UK imports vast amounts of liquid gas from Qatar too, carried by ships

Question 26

Outline of peatlands:

Answer 26

These are accumulation of partly decayed vegetation in wetlands.
Stores lots of carbon because there is reduced carbon breakdown as they’re in cold waterlogged soils

Question 27

Statistics of how temperature rise releases carbon from peatlands:

Answer 27

Warming causes peat to dry out as water levels fall, increased drainage and decomposition
Warming of 4 C causes loss of 46% of carbon in shallow peat, and 86% in deep peat

Question 28

Outline of permafrost:

Answer 28

Permanently frozen ground usually situated in regions with high mountains, contain carbon and when it melts it releases CO2 and methane into atmosphere