carbon cycle

Question 1

Top 3 carbon stores?

Answer 1

Lithosphere
Oceans
Soils

Question 2

Biological Pump?

Answer 2

Phytoplankton photosynthesize. As they are consumed, carbon travels up food chain. Sea creature then dies, decomposes, and the carbon sinks to create carbon sediments.

Question 3

Carbonate pump?

Answer 3

CO2 enters the ocean via gas exchange to form H2CO3 (carbonic acid). This then disassociates to form bicarbonate ions, used to make shells. Shells can then form carbonate rocks.

Question 4

Physical pump?

Answer 4

CO2 dissolves into water and exsolves back into the atmosphere. THERMOHALINE CIRCULCATION carries carbon in the water around the planet due to the downwelling of cold salty water.

Question 5

What is a primary terrestrial producer?

Answer 5

Organisms that photosynthesize on land and SEQUESTERS carbon. Some of this carbon is returned to the atmosphere via respiration of the organism.

Question 6

Role of decomposers?

Answer 6

Return biological carbon back to the atmosphere from dead organic matter.

Question 7

Primary energy?

Answer 7

Product directly from natural resource

Question 8

Secondary energy?

Answer 8

Produced from primary energy sources (to create things like electricity) - transformation process

Question 9

Role of TNCs when it comes to energy?

Answer 9

• explore + extract energy
• FDI in developing nations that have energy resources
• however may not consider people or the environment during the extraction process

Question 10

Gazprom (and its issues)?

Answer 10

State owned Russian gas company. Utilises Russian gas reserves. Can be political by changing prices or cutting off supplies.

Question 11

Role of National Governments when it comes to energy?

Answer 11

• decisions based on physical availability, international agreements, the environment and geopolitical relations
• can influence energy consumption by changing prices, and have some degree of control over where energy comes from

Question 12

Denmark’s approach to energy?

Answer 12

Moving towards renewables- largest proportion of energy comes from wind, then biomass. Imports clean energy from neighboring countries

Question 13

OPEC

Answer 13

• Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Counties
• The 14 members control oil production to stabilise global oil prices
• Criticised for monopolising oil markets, and making political decisions, not economic ones

Question 14

The role of consumers in energy?

Answer 14

• users of the end product, whether it be industrial, domestic, manufacturing or transportation uses
• can influence energy policy through demand and through environmentalists

Question 15

Nord Stream 1&2

Answer 15

• 1000km long pipeline from Russia to Germany, supplying 110 billion cubic metres of gas to Europe a year
• Pipes exploded underwater in September 2022
• Nord Stream 2 was never completed after Russia invaded Ukraine
• Not sure what caused the explosion, some believe it was Russia

Question 16

Strait of Hormuz

Answer 16

CHOKEPOINT
- about 20% of the worlds oil travels through here
- only 21 miles wide at its narrowest point
- small disruption can increase oil prices quickly
- Iran says it has full control over the shipping route

Question 17

Other examples of places prone to pathway disruption?

Answer 17

• 2021 cyber attacks (50% of US east coast supply was shut down)
• Trans-Alaska Pipeline (climate change causing permafrost to melt leaves it vulnerable)

Question 18

Future uncertainties to do with tipping points?

Answer 18

• Forest Die Back: rainfall in a rainforest is mostly recycled water. If subject to a drought, trees die back, and if this reaches a tipping point, the die back stops recycling moisture leading to more die back.
• Changes to Thermohaline Circulation: Melting ice caps release lots of less dense freshwater into the sea, slowing down the circulation

Question 19

Future uncertainties to do with feedback mechanisms?

Answer 19

• Peatland: store lots of carbon due to the slow breakdown of vegetation. Warming results on peat drying out, so decomposition increases- warming of 4C will cause 40% loss in soil carbon
• Permafrost: when permafrost melts it releases trapped carbon into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide and methane

Question 20

Uncertainty over climate change?

Answer 20

Oceans and forests are carbon sinks- may become sources
Tipping points and positive feedback mechanisms
Worsened tropical events (IOD, El Nino)

Question 21

Uncertainties over human impacts to the carbon cycle?

Answer 21

Economic development = increased energy consumption
Population change increases demand
Technology and Globalisation increases transportation