Carbon Cycle Flashcards
carbon cycle definition
the transfer of carbon as inorganic and organic compounds between the atmosphere, organisms and the soil
processes in carbon cycle
photosynthesis respiration decomposition fossilisation removal of co2 from the cycle
photosynthesis in carbon cycle
plants remove co2 gas from atmosphere
they use it to synthesise organic compounds containjng carbon (glucose/sucrose)
they incorporate this into their biomass or use it for cellular processes ie respiration
respiration in the carbon cycle
plants respire and release co2 back into the atmosphere
organisms consume plants, and digest the organic carbohydrate compounds containing the carbon and use in respiration releasing co2 back into air
decomposition
decomposers are saprobionts which use extracellular digestion to digest dead decaying organic compounds and then absorb the soluble products
hydrolase enzymes are secreted
they digest and release nutrients into the soil and use the carbohydrate source to respire
-dead animals
-animal waste
-dead plants
fossilisation
occurs when dead organisms are not exposed to acidic or aerobic conditions
carbon source is trapped inside the organism
they do not degrade or decompose
this forms fossil fuels
coal natural gas and peat
removal of co2 from the cycle
co2 dissolves into sea and oceans
reacts with h20 to produce hydrogen carbonate
hydrogen carbonate reacts with calcium and is used to form the exoskeleton and she’ll of aquatic organisms
once they die, they become chalk or limestone, only if eroded is carbon re established back into the cycle
human impact on carbon cycle
global warming climate change greenhouse effect carbon footprint deforestation and combustion
deforestation and combustion
trees are chopped down which would absorb co2 to use in photosynthesis
the trees are often burned to generate heat energy for fuel production
fossil fuels are burned for energy production
climate change
erratic weather patterns caused by rising global temperature and greenhouse effect
frequent storms
flash floods
droughts
global warming
the average increase is global temperature per year due to excessive greenhouse gas production
consequences of global warming
methane burp (large quantities of methane released when ice sheets on ocean floor warm up, melt and release the gas)
melting ice caps
rising sea levels
- coastal flooding
- destruction of salt marshes and coastal plains
- fresh water contaminated with salt water
warming of sea water extinction of species climate change forest fires food shortage ecosystems collapse when plant life cannot adapt to newer warm temps
greenhouse effect
describes how the excessive emission of greenhouse gases, cause the earth and earth’s atmosphere to trap heat energy
how
uv radiation emitted to earth
it reflects off earth as infrared radiation
instead of passing out of the atmosphere, the gas molecules absorb it and re emit it
the infrared radiation is re emmited back to earth where it absorbed and increase earth temperature
they absorb it and vibrate increasing atmospheric temperature
greenhouse gases
carbon dioxide carbon monoxide methane water vapour nitrous oxide ozone
carbon footprint
the volume of co2 emissions produced by one company or one person per unit volume per year
