Carbon Cycle Flashcards

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1
Q

GEOLOGICAL ORIGINS

A

FORMATION OF SEDEMENTARY CARBONATE ROCKS

PLANTS AND AMINALS SHALE, COAL AND OTHER ROCKS

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2
Q

GEOLOGICAL PROCESS WHICH RELEASE CARBON

A

BURN FOSSIL FUELS
VOLCANIC OUTGASING
CHEMICAL WEATHERING

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3
Q

BIOLOGICAL CARBON CYCLE

A
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
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4
Q

THERMOHALINE CIRCULATION AND THE GULF STREAM

A

“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

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5
Q

TERRESTRIAL CARBON CYCLE

A

PLANTS SEQUEST FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS

RESPIRATION FROM ANIMALS RELEASED BACK INTO ATMOSPHERE

MICRO ORGANISMS EAT ANIMAL WASTE

THEN DIE

RELEASED BACK TO SOIL

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6
Q

TERRESTRIAL STORES

A

ROLE OF TREEES

MANGROVES

TUNDRA SOILS

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7
Q

GREENHOUSE EFFECT

A

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

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8
Q

REGULATING COMPOSITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE

+

IMPORTANT FOR ECOSYSTEM PRODUCTIVITY

A

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

SOIL HEALTH

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9
Q

FOSSIL FUELS

A

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

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10
Q

ENERGY SECURITY (DEFN)

A

UNINTERUPTED AVAILABILITY OF ENERGY SOURCES AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE

ACCESSIBILITY - AFFORDABILITY, AVAILABILITY AND RELIABILITY

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11
Q

ENERGY MIX

A

HOW COUNTRY MEETS ENERGY DEMANDS EG FOSSIL FUELS AND RENEWABLES

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12
Q

FACTORS AFFECTING ENERGY SECURITY X 7

A
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
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13
Q

ENERGY PLAYERS

A
GOVERNMENTS
CONSUMERS
OPEC
ENVIRONMENTALISTS eg GREENPEACE
GENERATORS
DISTRIBUTORS 
ENERGY TNC'S
SCIENTISTS
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14
Q

CASE STUDY ON

ENERGY MIX AND SECURITY IN FRANCE

A

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

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15
Q

CASE STUDY ON

ENERGY MIX AND SECURITY IN USA

A

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

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16
Q

OIL DISTRIBUTION

A

SEE DAD

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17
Q

COAL DISTRIBUTION

A

SEE DAD

18
Q

GAS DISTRIBUTION

A

SEE DAD

19
Q

CASE STUDY

RUSSIA - EUROPE

A

RUSSIA 2ND LARGES PRODUCER OF GAS

4 PIPELINES AND 3 CROSS UKRAINE

MILITARY ACTION IN UKRAINE THREATENS EUROPEAN GAS SUPPLIES

UKRAINE IMPORTANT FOR TRADE

20
Q

TAR SANDS (UNCONVENTIAL FOSSIL FUELS)

A

MIXTURE OF CLAY, SAND, WATER BITUMEN

INJECTED WITH STEAM MAKES TAR LESS VISCOISE

eg CANADA

21
Q

OIL SANDS (UNCONVENTIAL FOSSIL FUELS)

A

OIL BEARING ROCKS PERMEABLE ENOUGH TO ALLOW

???????

22
Q

SHALE GAS (UNCONVENTIAL FOSSIL FUELS)

A

NATURAL GAS TRAPPED IN FINE GRAIN SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

FRACKING

PUMPING IN WATER AND CHEMICAL FLUSHES OUT GAS eg USA

23
Q

DEEP WATER OIL (UNCONVENTIAL FOSSIL FUELS)

A

OIL AND GAS FOUND WELL OFF SHORE

AT CONSIDERABLE OCEAN DEPTHS

DRILLING TAKES PLACE ON OCEAN RIGS

eg BRAZIL

24
Q

RECYCLABLES AND RENEWABLES

A

RENEWABLE = NUCLEAR ENERGY

SAFETY
COST
HIGHLY TOXIC WASTE
TECHNOLOGY EVOLVING

25
Q

BIOFUELS

A

USES BIOMASS

GROWING BIOFUEL CROPS DECREASES FOSSIL FULE USE eg WHEAT

eg BRAZIL

_VE IMPACTS = FOOD SECURITY AND AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT

26
Q

RADICAL TECHNOLOGIES (DEFN)

A

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

27
Q

KYOTO PROTOCAL

A

A 1997 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT TO LIMIT AIR POLLUTION AND REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING

NOT SIGNED BY EVERYONE eg CHINA AND US

28
Q

LAND USE CHANGES

A

DEFORESTATION

AFFORESTATION

CONVERGING OF GRASSLAND TO FARMING

29
Q

WHY IS LAND USE CHANGING

A

GROWING DEMAND FOR FOOD (MEAT)

GROWING POPn

GROWING AFFLUENCE (EMERGING COUNTRIES)

SSA AND ASIA

30
Q

OCEAN ACIDIFICATION - IMPLICATIONS FOR HUMANS

A

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

31
Q

Cop 21 (PAIRS AGREEMENT )

A

THE UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE HELD IN PARIS IN 2015
SET A TARGET OF LIMITING GLOBAL WARMING TO “WELL BELOW 2 DEGREE”

32
Q

WHAT ARE THE CARBON TRANSFERS ? X 6

A

RESPIRATION

PHOTOSYNTHESES

COMBUSTION

DECOMPOSITION

SEQUESSTRATION

WEATHERING

33
Q

HOW IS THE WATER CYCLE AFFECTED BY LAND USE CHANGE ?

A

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

34
Q

HOW IS THE CARBON CYCLE AFFECTED BY LAND USE CHANGE ?

A

REDUCTION IN CARBON STORAGE

REDUCED CARBON SEQUESTRATION DUE TO LESS PHOTOSYNTHESIS

GREATER OUTPUT OF CARBON INTO ATMOSPHERE

BURNING DECAYING VEGETATION

35
Q

ENVIRONMENTAL KUZNETS CURVE

A

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

36
Q

HOW IS DROUGHT BEING EXACERBATED BY POSITIVE FEEDBACK ?

A

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

37
Q

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON
EVAPORATION AND PRESIPITATION PATTERNS

eg YUKON

A

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

38
Q

HUMAN FACTORS - WHY FUTURE UNCERTAIN

A

POPULATION GROWTH

ECONOMIC GROWTH

GOWING AFFLUENCE IN EMERGING COUNTRIES

LAND USE CHANGE

PRICE OF OIL

CONSUMER BEHAVIOR

GOVERNMENT POLICIES

39
Q

PHYSICAL FACTORS - WHY FUTURE UNCERTAIN

A

CO2 ABSORPTION FROM CARBON SINKS

NATURAL CLIMATE EFFECTS ??

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR CO2 LEVELS IN ATMOSPHER TO REDUCE

40
Q

ADAPTATION STRATEGIES X 4

A
  1. WATER CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT
  2. LAND USE PLANNING AND FLOOD RISK MANAGMENT eg LAND USE ZONING AND LOW COST APPROACH TO FLOOD MANAGMENT
  3. RESILIANT AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS
    eg INCREASING YIELD, INCOME AND WATER CONSERVATION eg USA, SYRIA, TO IRAQ
    PLOUGING APPROACH
  4. SOLAR RADIATION MANAGEMENT
    eg REFLECT SOLAR RAYS TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING - BASED REFLECTORS AND CLOUD BRIGHTENING . +VE QUICK TO GET GOING
41
Q

MITIGATION STRATEGIES x 5

A
  1. CARBON TAXATION
    (USE FUELS LOWER IN EMISSIONS)
  2. CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE
    eg BOUNDARY DAM, CANADA
  3. RENEWABLE SWITCHING eg SWEDEN
    (OIL DOWN 70% IN 1970 TO 20% NOW)
  4. AFFORESTATION AND REFORESTATION
  5. ENERGY EFFICIENCY