Carbon Cycle Flashcards
transfer of carbon within the cycle is measured in…
gigatonnes of carbon per year (GtC/year)
lithosphere
hard, rigid outer layer of the earth including pedosphere where soil is formed
GLODAP
Global Ocean Data Analysis Project
where does peat form
in wetland areas with little oxygen flow and slow decomposition rates
major stores of carbon
lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, cryosphere
natural movements of carbon
photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, oceanic carbon pumps, volcanic activity
human movements of carbon
fuel extraction and burning, farming, deforestation, urban growth, carbon sequestration
human and natural movements of carbon
combustion and wildfires, weathering
effects of the changing carbon budget on oceans
ocean warming, acidification, salinity, sea level rise, melting sea ice
effects of the changing carbon budget on the atmosphere
greenhouse effect, radiative forcing
effects of the changing carbon budget on land
land use decisions (human), removal by plants (physical)
methods of climate change mitigation
carbon capture and sequestration technologies (CCS), changing rural land use, improved aviation practices
anthropogenic co2
carbon dioxide generated by human activity
biosphere
total sum of all living matter
carbon sequestration
capture of co2 from the atmosphere/anthropogenic co2 from large-scale stationary sources before released then put into long-term storage
carbon sink
a store of carbon that absorbs more than it releases
greenhouse gas
any gaseous compound in atmos. that is capable of absorbing infrared radiation so trapping/holding heat
weathering
breakdown of rocks in situ by a combination of weather, plants, animals
geo-sequestration
technology of capturing greenhouse gas emissions from power stations and pumping them into underground reservoirs
radiative forcing
difference between the incoming solar energy absorbed by the earth and energy radiated back into space
soil organic carbon (SOC)
the organic constituents in the soil- tissues from dead plants/animals, products from decomposition of these, soil microbial biomass
isolated systems
no interactions with anything outside the system boundary - no input/output of energy/matter
closed system
have transfers of energy both into and beyond the system boundary but not transfer of matter
open systems
matter and energy can be transferred from the system across the boundary into surrounding environment
dynamic equilibrium
state when there is a balance between the inputs and outputs of a system
positive feedback
where the effects of an action are amplified/multiplied by subsequent secondary effects
negative feedback
where the effects of an action are nullified by its subsequent knock-on effects
cascading system
an open system that forms part of a chain e.g. earth - has 4 major subsystems each open
