Carbon Cycle Flashcards

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1
Q

Why is carbon so important to biological organism?

A

The formation of complex organic molecules

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2
Q

What happens during photosynthesis?

A

CO2 is removed from the atmosphere carbon store by terrestrial plants and from oceanic stores by aquatic plants to form biosphere carbon stores

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3
Q

What happens during respiration?

A

CO2 is returned to the carbon stores in the air and oceans

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4
Q

What happens during decomposition?

A

CO2 is released from dead organism by sapeobionts

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5
Q

What happens during fossilisation?

A

Formation of fossil fuels from dead organisms which have not decayed and the formation of limestone from the skeletons and shells of marine organism

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6
Q

What happens during combustion ?

A

Carbon from fossil fuels is returned to the carbon store in the atmoshpere

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7
Q

How does Deforestation effect the carbon cycle?

A

The rate at which CO2 is removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis is reduced by cutting down forests.
When trees are cut down, they may be burned or left to decay. Both of these processes release carbon dioxide

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8
Q

What are the two main causes of Climate change caused by humans?

A
  1. Burning of fossil fuels

2. Deforestation

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9
Q

Describe the greenhouse effect?

A

Radiation from the sun that reaches the surface of the Earth is absorbed and re-emitted as longer wavelength radiation. The radiation is absorbed by “Greenhouse Gases” which contributes towards warming the Earth

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10
Q

How has global warming effected the ice caps? What are the consequences?

A

Some melting of polar icecaps and the thermal expansion of water. This has caused flooding of coastal areas and coastal erosion.

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11
Q

How has global warming effected the weather ? What are the consequences?

A

Increased frequency of droughts, hurricanes and cyclones, and also forest fires. This leads to water shortages and its impact on crop production.

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12
Q

How does climate change effect the Oceans and fish?

A

Increasing CO2 decreases the pH of oceans which threatens fish populations and coral reefs.

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13
Q

Define Carbon Footprint

A

The total amount of carbon dioxide attributable to the actions of an individual in the course of one year.

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14
Q

How can we minimize global warming?

A
  1. Improve our farming practice
  2. Become vegetarian
  3. Buy goods with a low carbon footprint
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15
Q

How is CO2 in the air fixed into organic molecules in plants?

A

Photosynthesis

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16
Q

How does organic molecules in plants move into animals?

A

Feeding

17
Q

How does carbon move from organic molecules in plants back into CO2 in the atmosphere?

A

Respiration

18
Q

How does carbon move from organic molecules in animals back into CO2 in the atmosphere?

A

Respiration

19
Q

What three processes move carbon from the organic molecules in animals to decomposers?

A
  1. Death and decomposition
  2. Excretion
  3. Egestion
20
Q

How does carbon move from the organic molecules in animals to fossil fuels?

A

Fossilisation

21
Q

How does the carbon in fossil fuels move into CO2 in the air?

A

Combustion

22
Q

How does the carbon in decomposers move to fossil fuels?

A

Fossilisation

23
Q

How does the carbon in organic molecules in plants move to decomposers?

A

Death and decomposition

24
Q

What are the 5 key processes of the Carbon Cycle?

A
  1. Photosynthesis
  2. Respiration
  3. Decomposition
  4. Fossilisation
  5. Combustion
25
Q

What are the four main Greenhouse Gases?

A
  1. CO2
  2. CH4
  3. Water Vapour
  4. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
26
Q

What are the main carbon stores?

A
  1. Oceans
  2. Sediment
  3. Fossil Fuels
  4. Biomass
  5. Atmosphere
27
Q

Define Photosynthesis

A

CO2 is removed from the atmosphere carbon store by terrestrial plants and from oceanic stores by aquatic plants in order to form biosphere carbon stores.

28
Q

Define Respiration

A

CO2 is returned to the carbon stores in the air and oceans

29
Q

Define Decomposition

A

CO2 is released from dead organisms by saprobiants

30
Q

Define Fossilisation

A

Formation of fossil fuels from dead organism which have not decayed and the formation of limestone from the skeletons and shells of marine organisms.

31
Q

Define Combustion

A

Carbon from fossil fuels is returned to the carbon store in the atmosphere.