Carbon Cycle Flashcards
What is the carbon cycle?
The carbon cycle is the process in which carbon travels from the atmosphere into organisms and the Earth and then back into the atmosphere
1st route A (Plants and algae) CC
Carbon dioxide is removed from the environment by plants and algae during photosynthesis
1st route B (Respiration) CC
When green plants and algae respire, some of this carbon becomes carbon dioxide and is released into the atmosphere
1st route C (Combustion) CC
Combustion of wood and fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the air
1st route D (Decay) CC
When plants, algae die, some animals and microorganisms feed on their bodies
2nd route A (Animals) CC
When green plants and algae are eaten by animals and theses animals are eaten by other animals. Some of the carbon becomes part of the fats and proteins that make up the bodies of the consumers
2nd route B (Respiration) CC
When animals respire, some of this carbon becomes carbon dioxide and is released into the atmosphere
2nd route C (Decay) CC
Carbon is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide when microorganisms respire
back to the main point (Growth) CC
the carbon from the carbon dioxide is used to make carbohydrates, fats and proteins, which make up the body of plants and algae
Why is the concentration of CO2 higher at night?
There is no photosynthesis taking place due to the absence of light.
Respiration is still occurring but at a lower rate as temperature is usually lower during the night
Why has the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere grown globally?
The combustion of fossil fuels such as coal and oil
Deforestation which has reduced large amounts of photosynthesizing biomass, so less CO2 is being removed from the atmosphere.
What is a greenhouse gas?
any gas that has a greenhouse effect
A green house effect is solar radiation being reflected back into space, some being reabsorbed and reaching the earths surface. It is then either radiated back into space as heat or radiated back to earth by clodusa and the green house gases
What can a few degrees celcius increase cause?
Climate change - Increase in temperature causing droughts, flooding and typhoons
Rising sea levels - Melting ice caps
Reduced Biodiversity - Many organisms may not survive the new changes.
Changes in migration patterns
Changes in distribution - some animals may extend their range and others may decrease their range and others may disappear completely.
Life cycle of insect pests - would alter as they adapt to the changed conditions. Tropical diseases could spread towards the poles.
