Carbon Cycle Definitions Flashcards
What is acidification?
The gradual reduction of pH of the oceans, due to dissolving carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
What is afforestation?
Planting trees and vegetation in the aim of increasing forest cover
what is biofuel?
Burning crops and vegetation for electricity and heat
What is Carbon capture and storage?
The capture of carbon dioxide emissions directly from the factory, pumped into the disused mines rather than being released into the atmosphere
What is a carbon flux?
The movement of carbon between stores
What does carbon neutral mean?
A process that has no net addition of carbon dioxide to the environment
What is a carbon store?
Places where carbon accumulated for a period of time such as rocks and plant matter
What is a choke point?
Points in the logistics of energy and fuel that are prone to restriction
What is combustion?
The process of burning a substance, in the presence of oxygen
What is decomposition?
The break down of matter, often by a decomposed which releases carbon dioxide through their own respiration
What is the energy mix?
The composition of a country’s energy sources
What is energy security?
When a country has accessible, domestic, reliable and affordable energy sources
What is the energy pathway?
The movement of energy from its extraction or source, through pipes, freight logistics or cables
What are energy players?
Key companies and individuals who own, distribute and sell energy and energy sources
What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?
The build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, reducing the amount of solar radiation reflected into space
What is inorganic carbon?
Carbon stored in carbonated rocks
What does non renewable mean?
A source of energy that can only be used once to generate electricity or takes thousands of years to replace
What is nuclear fusion?
The process of joining atomic nuclei together to produce energy
What is OPEC?
Oil and petroleum exporting countries. An organisation that supports and coordinates fossil fuel exporting countries
What is organic carbon?
Carbon stored in plant material and living organisms
What is outgassing?
The release of dissolved carbon dioxide (e.g at plate boundaries, warming the oceans)
What is photosynthesis?
The process of converting carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. All plants and some organisms rely on this process to survive
What is phytoplankton?
Small organisms that rely on photosynthesis to survive, so intake carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
What is primary energy?
The initial source of energy, as it is naturally found. This could be natural ores, water, crops or radioactive material
What is renewable energy?
Primary energy that can be re-used to produce electricity or has a short lifetime, therefore any used can be replaced quickly
What is respiration?
The process of converting glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide and energy.
What is secondary energy?
The product of primary energy, mostly electricity
What is sequestration?
The transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to stores elsewhere - living biosphere, inorganic rocks etc
What is the Thermohaline Circulation?
The movement of volumes of seawater from cold deep water to warm water surface water.
What is the tipping point?
A critical threshold where any changes to a system after the tipping point are irreversible
