Carbon cycle and energy security enq 1 Flashcards
What two types of carbon can there be?
- biotic (living)
- abiotic (nonliving)
True or false nearly 20% of carbon is in all living things.
true
What happened during the Pre-Cambrian epoch
Huge amounts of CO2 h2o and so2 were added to the atmosphere which makes up the basic composition of our atmosphere today
What was carbons role 2 billion years ago
- co2 was dissolved into oceans and then stored in sedimentary rocks. This accelerated when land-based ecosystems developed.
Since 1800 what two things has man done to impact carbon cycle
- deforestation - loss of carbon store
- burning fossil fuels
Define geomorphological processes
wind, rain,tempertature, solar (weather)
What is one of the principal drivers of the carbon cycle
the water cycle as rivers and SRO move sediment and soils into oceans.
precipitation through geomorphological processes erodes rock and soil SRO gets take to ocean
What are the two long term stores of carbon
- crustal/terrestrial geological
- oceanic (deep)
What are the four short term stores of carbon
- terrestrial soil
- oceanic surface
- atmospheric
- terrestrial ecosystems
Do long term stores or short term stores store more carbon?
back up with percentages!!
LONG TERM
-99.996% carbon stored long term, most in geological
True or false any impact on the longterm geological cycle significantly impacts the short term which can create feedback mechanisms.
true
Explain the geological carbon cycle simply
organic matter buried deep down is protected from decay and can take millions of years to turn into fossil fuels
Where can carbon been sequestered in flows (5)
between ATMOSPHERE and OCEANS, OCEAN SEDIMENT and on land in VEGETATION, SOIL, FRESHWATER
Explain the geological carbon release
- volcanic activity (OUTGASSING - RELEASED CARBON) from then spread of tectonic plates has released carbons for millions of years
- operating continuously throughout geological time, this is the primary source of natural atmospheric CO2
Define sequester
the process of capturing and storing atmospheric co2
Define Diagenesis
a transformative process that changes organic, inorganic, and mineral compounds in sediment and rocks into different types of sediment or rocks
Explain the formation of sedimentary carbonate rocks (limestone) in oceans
3 steps in detail
- limestone rocks contain a high concentration of calcium carbonate, formed from shells and skeletons of marine creatures and phytoplankton that absorb carbon through photosynthesis
- this accumulates and compacts into organic limestone rock and may also form from direct calcium carbonate precipitin or from evaporation of sea water
- lime rocks are vulnerable to chemical weathermen as rain becomes a weak carbonic acid when it falls through air and it dissolves the calcium carbonate, allowing erosion processes to transfer dissolved carbon for deposition on the seabed
How is shale formed
Shale is made up of sediment grains that have settled into defined layers on the ocean’s floor. The grains mix with organic matter that is found on the floor of the ocean. When this is compacted together with clay shale is formed
What are the two biggest and key forces in fossil fuel formation
pressure and heat
Explain coal formation
5 steps in detail
- huge forests grew 300 million years ago
- the vegetation dies and dorms peat compressing into organic material
- this peat over long periods of organic accumulation is compressed and forms lignite
- further compression with applied heat and pressure forms bituminous coal
- eventually anthracite forms which has high energy potential
Explain oil and gas formation
4 steps in detail
- marine plants and animals die and sink to the bottom of the sea bed
- plant and animal alter gets covered with mud
- overtime, more sediment creates pressure, compressing the dead plants and animals into oil
- oil moves up through porous rocks and eventually forms a reservoir
True or false
Anaerobic reactions convert over 75% of this organic carbon into liquid - crude oil
FALSE - 90%
Highlight the consequence of sea temperature on volcanic outgassing and absorption of co2
some co2 is absorbed by the oceans, cold water absorbs it whereas warm water may actually give it off
this could become a climate change issue due to positive feedback mechanisms and the ocean potentially being a net carbon contributor as ocean sea temperature increases
Name an example of geological carbon duration
Mount Etna Italy
Mount Etna Italy describe this example in geological long term cycle
releases the largest amount of c02 through degassing due to the dolomite and limestone rocks that used to make up the floor of the Tethys Sea
What are the 8 processes (FLUXES) in the carbon cycle
- erupting volcano
- burning fossil fuels, forests
- decomposition of plants
- photosynthesis
- respiration
- weathering and erosion
- rock cycle
- sinking of carbon based animals in oceans
What are the 9 reservoirs (STORES) in the carbon cycle
- soil and organic carbon
- plants and food webs
- phytoplankton
- ocean surface
- deep ocean currents
- deep ocean sediments
- shellfish and coral
- sedimentary rocks
- coal oil and gas
What is the biological carbon cycle often referred to as and what three thinks does it link
- the short term/fast cycle
- atmosphere ocean ecosystems
What are 5 biological/ short term carbon cycles
- oceans
- forests and trees
- peat
- fossil fuels
- soils
True or false The oceans are the greatest store of carbon on the planet 50 TIMES GREATER THAN THE ATMOSPHERE
TRUE
what percentage of co2 is stored in undersea algae, plant and coral
93%
highlight the link between the short and long term cycle in the oceans
as small changes in carbon cycling in the ocean can have significant global impacts
short term flux in carbon cycle - oceans
co2 gas exchange flux between oceans and atmosphere
what are the three oceanic carbon cycle pumps
- physical pump
- biological pump
- carbonate pump
what are the two biggest carbon sinks
ocean and atmosphere
explain the 7 steps in the geological carbon cycle (circular
- release of co2 into the atmosphere by volcanism
- co2 combines with rain to form carbonic rain
- carbon acid reacts with rock
- carbon is carried by rivers
- carbon is used to form animal shells in the sea
- when animals die their shells form limestone when they sink to the bottom of the ocean
- subduction of carbonate rocks into the magma chamber
whole process starts again
Physical pump in carbon cycle (in ocean)
3 points
- surface - deep
- deep - surface
- distribution
- colder the water greater absorption, warm water is therefore transported to poles and cools absorbing and diffusing more CO2 salinity increases and as a a result downwelling takes co2 from surface to deep ocean removing carbon from upper ocean
- this allows more diffusion to occur regulating the carbon store in atmosphere
- also upwelling of carbon from deep ocean to surface and back to atmosphere meaning oceans regulate carbon cycle in atmosphere in two ways, carbon moving both downwards and upwards
- can also be distributed around planet by thermohaline circulation
define thermohaline circulation
the movement of seawater in a pattern of flow dependent on variations in temperature, which give rise to changes in salt content and hence in density. vital for planetary health.
Biological pump in carbon cycle (in ocean)
3 points
- co2 sequestered in the ocean through photosynthesis by phytoplankton converting it into organic matter.
- as they die dead cells shells sink into the mid and deep water, as well as decay releasing co2 into mid deep water
- removes carbon form surface oceans into atmosphere and stores it in mid deep ocean store, regulating cycle
True or false
VERY LITTLE OF WHAT GOES INOT OCEAN GOES TO THE SEA FLOOR, MOST IS RECYCLED IN THE SURFACE WATER, ONLY 0.1% REACHES OCEAN FLOOR WHERE IT DECOMPOSES TO SEDIMENT
TRUE TRUE TRUE
Carbonate pump in carbon cycle ( in ocean)
4 points
- co2 absorbed by oceans from atmosphere forms carbonic acid which in turn reacts with hydrogen ions to form bicarbonates and further reactions form carbonates to make shells.
- when these organisms die some material sinks to bottom forming the seabed sediment store
- SHELLS THAT DON’T DISSOLVE END UP ON SEA FLOOR WHERE OVER TIME THROUGH CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROCESSES THE CARBON IS TRANSFORMED INTO ROCK LIKE CARBON
- this regulates composition of atmosphere as it locks up carbon in long term geo cycle and doesn’t allow it to return to ocean surface
What does the carbonate pump rely on
the inorganic carbon sedimentation when organisms die and sink many shells dissolve before reaching ocean floor.
How important is the ocean in regulating the amount of carbon in the atmosphere
two points
they are a vital flux absorbing co2 through diffusion, absorb more carbon than it emits carbon sink!!
three pumps allow them to be a carbon sink.
what is a negative about oceans good evaluation
however they also emit carbon when warmed due to global warming this could cause an issue as they are vital to planetary wellbeing
what is terrestrial sequestration
the organic carbon cycle on landed the shortest one.
what are the steps of terrestrial sequestration (2)
- carbon trapped in produces transfers to consumers as one organism eats another
- a food chain, web etc. as organisms transfer carbon by eating and being eaten
What are the three most productive biomes globally with ecosystems
- tropical rainforests
- savannah
- grassland
what is net primary productivity (NPP) and the equation
The net amount of primary productivity after the costs of plant respiration are included
NPP = gross primary productivity - respiration
Tropical Rainforest biome
three facts
- largest organic store of carbon on earth
- sequesters 17% of all terrestrial carbon
- brazilian nut tree dominates 1% of amazons and stores 50% of its carbon.
Wetlands and Peatlands biome
two facts
- formed during holocene and have been carbon stores for 1000s of years
- with climate change and exploitation they are now becoming NET CARBON SOURCES
What are the three ways the capacity of soil to store organic carbon is determined by?
THEY CAN ALSO BE LIMITING FACTORS
- Climate (dictates plant growth a decomposition rate)
- Soil type (clay soils better carbon content)
- management and use of soil (due to overgrazing, farming)
What are the five main ways humans have impacted the carbon cycle
- deforestation
- farming
- mining
- fishing
- pollution
What can the two main things carbon cycle impact.
HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE
ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
Describe the greenhouse effect
The earth’s climate is driven by incoming shortwave radiation which can pass through denser gases in the lower atmosphere.
Heat energy is reflected back off the earth as a longer wavelength which means its struggles to pass through denser gases
What percentage of heat energy is reflected by clouds, aerosols and gases in the atmosphere and by the land surface.
approximately 31%
What percentage of heat energy and long wave radiation is absorbed into the earth.
69% with 50% being absorbed by the earth’s surface, especially oceans due to albedo.
What is a major positive of trapping long wave radiation.
it gives the planet an average surface temperature of 15 degrees which protects life
What would happen without ghgs such as water vapour, methane, co2
planet avg. temp -6 degrees
what are the percentages of human caused ghg emissions
co2
methane
nitrous oxide
fluronitaed gas
C - 76%
M - 16%
NO - 6%
FG - 2%
Describe lag time of Co2
once emitted into atmosphere 40% remains after 100 years, 20% after 1000, 10% after 10000
Describe lag time of methane and global warming impact
decade lag time, v small
gw impact is 25x greater than carbon over a 100 year period
describe lag time and global warming impact of nitrous oxide
100 year lag time
Has a GWP (global warming potential) 300x greater than co2
Describe the global warming impact of water vapour
most abudnant not linked tor human activity directly
could induce positive feedback loop, uncertain
Describe the global warming impact and lag time of fluroinated gases
trap much more heat
gap can be thousands to tens of thousands of years very long lag time.
replacing these and disposing of them is one of the most important global actions the world could take
What are the ghg emissions by economic sector globally
- agriculture forestry and land use
- electricity and heat production
- industry
- transportation
AFL - 24%
EHP - 25%
I - 21%
t - 14%
True or false, since Industrial Revolution earth appears to be warming up 8 times faster sine human interference
TRUE TRUE TRUE
What is the importance of photosynthesis and respiration
Both cycle co2 and oxygen between oceans and biological world.
Oceanic and terrestrial photosynthesis play an important role in the regulation of the composition of the atmosphere
EXAMPLE OF SOIL HEALTH IN LANCASHIRE
98% of peat bogs have been lost in Lancashire from draining and garden centres
What does NOT account for the 8x increase in planetary warming - IPCC
(5)
- milankovitch cycles
- solar forcing
- el nino
- volcanoes
- ocean oscillaations
Before the industrial revolution what ppm did carbon vary between in the atmosphere
180ppm and 290ppm
As of Dec 2023 how much ppm of carbon is in atmosphere
424 ppm, increase from previous
What are the three ways the carbon cycle has absorbed greater levels of carbon and percentages of each (3)
43% atmosphere
28% oceans
29% terrestrial
True or false 1g of coal burnt makes 1g carbon
FALSE 3g of carbon, balance lost due to human interference
