Carbon Cycle Definitions

Question 1

What is acidification?

Answer 1

The gradual reduction of pH of the oceans, due to dissolving carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Question 2

What is afforestation?

Answer 2

Planting trees and vegetation in the aim of increasing forest cover

Question 3

what is biofuel?

Answer 3

Burning crops and vegetation for electricity and heat

Question 4

What is Carbon capture and storage?

Answer 4

The capture of carbon dioxide emissions directly from the factory, pumped into the disused mines rather than being released into the atmosphere

Question 5

What is a carbon flux?

Answer 5

The movement of carbon between stores

Question 6

What does carbon neutral mean?

Answer 6

A process that has no net addition of carbon dioxide to the environment

Question 7

What is a carbon store?

Answer 7

Places where carbon accumulated for a period of time such as rocks and plant matter

Question 8

What is a choke point?

Answer 8

Points in the logistics of energy and fuel that are prone to restriction

Question 9

What is combustion?

Answer 9

The process of burning a substance, in the presence of oxygen

Question 10

What is decomposition?

Answer 10

The break down of matter, often by a decomposed which releases carbon dioxide through their own respiration

Question 11

What is the energy mix?

Answer 11

The composition of a country’s energy sources

Question 12

What is energy security?

Answer 12

When a country has accessible, domestic, reliable and affordable energy sources

Question 13

What is the energy pathway?

Answer 13

The movement of energy from its extraction or source, through pipes, freight logistics or cables

Question 14

What are energy players?

Answer 14

Key companies and individuals who own, distribute and sell energy and energy sources

Question 15

What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?

Answer 15

The build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, reducing the amount of solar radiation reflected into space

Question 16

What is inorganic carbon?

Answer 16

Carbon stored in carbonated rocks

Question 17

What does non renewable mean?

Answer 17

A source of energy that can only be used once to generate electricity or takes thousands of years to replace

Question 18

What is nuclear fusion?

Answer 18

The process of joining atomic nuclei together to produce energy

Question 19

What is OPEC?

Answer 19

Oil and petroleum exporting countries. An organisation that supports and coordinates fossil fuel exporting countries

Question 20

What is organic carbon?

Answer 20

Carbon stored in plant material and living organisms

Question 21

What is outgassing?

Answer 21

The release of dissolved carbon dioxide (e.g at plate boundaries, warming the oceans)

Question 22

What is photosynthesis?

Answer 22

The process of converting carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. All plants and some organisms rely on this process to survive

Question 23

What is phytoplankton?

Answer 23

Small organisms that rely on photosynthesis to survive, so intake carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Question 24

What is primary energy?

Answer 24

The initial source of energy, as it is naturally found. This could be natural ores, water, crops or radioactive material

Question 25

What is renewable energy?

Answer 25

Primary energy that can be re-used to produce electricity or has a short lifetime, therefore any used can be replaced quickly

Question 26

What is respiration?

Answer 26

The process of converting glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide and energy.

Question 27

What is secondary energy?

Answer 27

The product of primary energy, mostly electricity

Question 28

What is sequestration?

Answer 28

The transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to stores elsewhere - living biosphere, inorganic rocks etc

Question 29

What is the Thermohaline Circulation?

Answer 29

The movement of volumes of seawater from cold deep water to warm water surface water.

Question 30

What is the tipping point?

Answer 30

A critical threshold where any changes to a system after the tipping point are irreversible