Carbon Cycle Flashcards
GEOLOGICAL ORIGINS
FORMATION OF SEDEMENTARY CARBONATE ROCKS
PLANTS AND AMINALS SHALE, COAL AND OTHER ROCKS
GEOLOGICAL PROCESS WHICH RELEASE CARBON
BURN FOSSIL FUELS
VOLCANIC OUTGASING
CHEMICAL WEATHERING
BIOLOGICAL CARBON CYCLE
CO2 DISSOLVES IN OCEAN BIOLOGICAL PUMP CARBONATE PUMP PUMPS OUT CO2 FROM ATMOS TO OCEAN WITHOUT PLANKTON CO2 TOO HIGH PHYISCAL PUMP AND THERMOHALINE CIRC
THERMOHALINE CIRCULATION AND THE GULF STREAM
“POLAR” WATER - DENSE/HEAVY = SINKS
WARMER WATER DRAWN IN FROM OCEAN
MOVELMENT FORM TROPICS
COLD WATER UP READY TO BE WARMED
NUTRIENTS
CURRENT AFFECTED BY LARGE ADDITIONS OF FRESH WATER
CAUSE GLOBAL ISSUES eg FALLING OF THE GULF STREAM
TERRESTRIAL CARBON CYCLE
PLANTS SEQUEST FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS
RESPIRATION FROM ANIMALS RELEASED BACK INTO ATMOSPHERE
MICRO ORGANISMS EAT ANIMAL WASTE
THEN DIE
RELEASED BACK TO SOIL
TERRESTRIAL STORES
ROLE OF TREEES
MANGROVES
TUNDRA SOILS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
Retention of heat by greenhouse gases on surface of earth allowing planets temp rise
Contributing factor global warming
Heat absorbed by earth
Gases, methane carbon dioxide sulphur dioxide
REGULATING COMPOSITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE
+
IMPORTANT FOR ECOSYSTEM PRODUCTIVITY
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
SOIL HEALTH
FOSSIL FUELS
AMPLIFIES THE GREEN HOUSE EFFECT
GLOBAL WARMING AFFECTS NATURLA THERMOHALINE CIRCULATION
LEADS TO UK TEMP BEING 5 DEGREES HIGHER
ECOSYSTEM RISK
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
MELTS PERMAFROST AND CRYOSPHERE
AFFECTS HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE
ENERGY SECURITY (DEFN)
UNINTERUPTED AVAILABILITY OF ENERGY SOURCES AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE
ACCESSIBILITY - AFFORDABILITY, AVAILABILITY AND RELIABILITY
ENERGY MIX
HOW COUNTRY MEETS ENERGY DEMANDS EG FOSSIL FUELS AND RENEWABLES
FACTORS AFFECTING ENERGY SECURITY X 7
1. ECONOMICAL DEVELOPMENT 2 CLIMATE 3 ENVIORNMENTAL PRIORITIES 4 DEPENDANCE ON IMPORTED ENERGY 5 PHYSICAL AVAILABILITY OF THE RESOURCE 6 TECHNOLOGY 7 COST OF ACCESSING THE STORE
ENERGY PLAYERS
GOVERNMENTS CONSUMERS OPEC ENVIRONMENTALISTS eg GREENPEACE GENERATORS DISTRIBUTORS ENERGY TNC'S SCIENTISTS
CASE STUDY ON
ENERGY MIX AND SECURITY IN FRANCE
ITS IN THE TOP 10 ENERGY CONSUMING COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD
POP 64.6 MILLION (SMALL)
ONLY 50% FOSSIL FUELS AS COMPARED TO SOUTH KOREA 82%
CLIMATE +VE = LESS FLUCS
10% ENERGY RENEWABLE
41% NUCLEAR ENERGY
SECURE AS NOT DEPENDANT ON ONE SOURCE OF ENERGY
CASE STUDY ON
ENERGY MIX AND SECURITY IN USA
2ND IN TOP 10 ENERGY CONSUMING COUNTRIES
HUGE POP 318.9M
HOT AND COLD CLIMATES
LARGE INPUTS OF ENERGY eg LIGHTING, HEATING
CARBON FULES PRODUCE 82% OF ENERGY CONSUMED
10% RENEWABLES
8% NUCLEAR
NOT LOOKING LONGER TERM
OIL DISTRIBUTION
SEE DAD
COAL DISTRIBUTION
SEE DAD
GAS DISTRIBUTION
SEE DAD
CASE STUDY
RUSSIA - EUROPE
RUSSIA 2ND LARGES PRODUCER OF GAS
4 PIPELINES AND 3 CROSS UKRAINE
MILITARY ACTION IN UKRAINE THREATENS EUROPEAN GAS SUPPLIES
UKRAINE IMPORTANT FOR TRADE
TAR SANDS (UNCONVENTIAL FOSSIL FUELS)
MIXTURE OF CLAY, SAND, WATER BITUMEN
INJECTED WITH STEAM MAKES TAR LESS VISCOISE
eg CANADA
OIL SANDS (UNCONVENTIAL FOSSIL FUELS)
OIL BEARING ROCKS PERMEABLE ENOUGH TO ALLOW
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SHALE GAS (UNCONVENTIAL FOSSIL FUELS)
NATURAL GAS TRAPPED IN FINE GRAIN SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
FRACKING
PUMPING IN WATER AND CHEMICAL FLUSHES OUT GAS eg USA
DEEP WATER OIL (UNCONVENTIAL FOSSIL FUELS)
OIL AND GAS FOUND WELL OFF SHORE
AT CONSIDERABLE OCEAN DEPTHS
DRILLING TAKES PLACE ON OCEAN RIGS
eg BRAZIL
RECYCLABLES AND RENEWABLES
RENEWABLE = NUCLEAR ENERGY
SAFETY
COST
HIGHLY TOXIC WASTE
TECHNOLOGY EVOLVING
BIOFUELS
USES BIOMASS
GROWING BIOFUEL CROPS DECREASES FOSSIL FULE USE eg WHEAT
eg BRAZIL
_VE IMPACTS = FOOD SECURITY AND AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT
RADICAL TECHNOLOGIES (DEFN)
NEW TECHNOLOGIES USED TO DESIGN NEW METHODS WHICH WORK AS ENERGY SOURCES
eg CARBON CAPTURING SORAGE EG BURYING CO2 AND BURYING IT UNDERGROUND
eg HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS COMBNE H2 AND 02 WHICH CREATES ELECTICITY HEAT AND WATER
KYOTO PROTOCAL
A 1997 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT TO LIMIT AIR POLLUTION AND REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING
NOT SIGNED BY EVERYONE eg CHINA AND US
LAND USE CHANGES
DEFORESTATION
AFFORESTATION
CONVERGING OF GRASSLAND TO FARMING
WHY IS LAND USE CHANGING
GROWING DEMAND FOR FOOD (MEAT)
GROWING POPn
GROWING AFFLUENCE (EMERGING COUNTRIES)
SSA AND ASIA
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION - IMPLICATIONS FOR HUMANS
INCREASING DUE TO FOSSIL FUEL CONSUMPTION
MORE CO2 IN ATMOSPHERE = MORE ABSORBED IN OCEANS
LEADS TO MORE CHEMCIAL REACTIONS
REMOVE CARONATE IONS FROM THE WATER
NEEDED MARINE LIFE
CORAL REEF BLEACHING
CRITICAL THRESHOLD OR TIPPING POINTS FOR CORAL REEFS
Cop 21 (PAIRS AGREEMENT )
THE UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE HELD IN PARIS IN 2015
SET A TARGET OF LIMITING GLOBAL WARMING TO “WELL BELOW 2 DEGREE”
WHAT ARE THE CARBON TRANSFERS ? X 6
RESPIRATION
PHOTOSYNTHESES
COMBUSTION
DECOMPOSITION
SEQUESSTRATION
WEATHERING
HOW IS THE WATER CYCLE AFFECTED BY LAND USE CHANGE ?
REDUCED INTERCEPTION
REDUCED INFILTRATION
INCREASED RAIN SPLASH
INCRESED WIND EROSION
INCREASED SEDIMENT TO RIVERS
ESP. FORESTS = LOSS OF TRANSPIRATION
FUELLING RAINFALL SO DROUGHT MORE FREQUENT
HOW IS THE CARBON CYCLE AFFECTED BY LAND USE CHANGE ?
REDUCTION IN CARBON STORAGE
REDUCED CARBON SEQUESTRATION DUE TO LESS PHOTOSYNTHESIS
GREATER OUTPUT OF CARBON INTO ATMOSPHERE
BURNING DECAYING VEGETATION
ENVIRONMENTAL KUZNETS CURVE
COUNTRY DEVELOPS =
DAMAGE TO NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
RESOURCES EXPLOITED
TECHNIOLOGY PRODUCED POLLUTION
AT A POINT -
MORE EFFICENT
USES LESS RESOURCES MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE
AND DEVELOPS ENVIRONMENTALL FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGY
RESULTS :
DAMAGE DECREASING AS COUNTRY REACHES A MORE DEVELOPED STATUS
HOW IS DROUGHT BEING EXACERBATED BY POSITIVE FEEDBACK ?
CHANGE =
MORE DROUGHTS
STRESS ON ECOSYSTEM
PHOTOSYNTHESISE SLOWER
LESS CO2 SEQUESTED (CARBON SINK CAPACTIY DECLINES)
LESS ORGANIC MATTER (SOILS)
MORE LIKELY TO HAVE FOREST FIRES (CO2)
= CLIMATE CHANGE ENHANCED FURTHER = WORST DROUGHTS
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON
EVAPORATION AND PRESIPITATION PATTERNS
eg YUKON
ARCTIC WARMING FASTER THAN AVERAGE
INCREASED TRANSPORTATION AND PRECIPATION
SNOW MELT EARLIER = SNOW COVER DECREASES = EARLIER PEAK FLOW ON THE REGIME
OVER TIME GLACIERS RETREAT = REDUCED DISCHARGE IN GLACIER FED RIVERS
PERMAFROST THAWS
HUMAN FACTORS - WHY FUTURE UNCERTAIN
POPULATION GROWTH
ECONOMIC GROWTH
GOWING AFFLUENCE IN EMERGING COUNTRIES
LAND USE CHANGE
PRICE OF OIL
CONSUMER BEHAVIOR
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
PHYSICAL FACTORS - WHY FUTURE UNCERTAIN
CO2 ABSORPTION FROM CARBON SINKS
NATURAL CLIMATE EFFECTS ??
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR CO2 LEVELS IN ATMOSPHER TO REDUCE
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES X 4
- WATER CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT
- LAND USE PLANNING AND FLOOD RISK MANAGMENT eg LAND USE ZONING AND LOW COST APPROACH TO FLOOD MANAGMENT
- RESILIANT AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS
eg INCREASING YIELD, INCOME AND WATER CONSERVATION eg USA, SYRIA, TO IRAQ
PLOUGING APPROACH - SOLAR RADIATION MANAGEMENT
eg REFLECT SOLAR RAYS TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING - BASED REFLECTORS AND CLOUD BRIGHTENING . +VE QUICK TO GET GOING
MITIGATION STRATEGIES x 5
- CARBON TAXATION
(USE FUELS LOWER IN EMISSIONS) - CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE
eg BOUNDARY DAM, CANADA - RENEWABLE SWITCHING eg SWEDEN
(OIL DOWN 70% IN 1970 TO 20% NOW) - AFFORESTATION AND REFORESTATION
- ENERGY EFFICIENCY
