Carbon EQ 1 Flashcards
What is a store
A place where carbon resides. Can be known as a pool, stock or reservoir
They can be terrestrial, oceanic and atmospheric
What is a flux
Refers to the movement or transfer of carbon between stores. Fluxes create cycles and feedback
Define geological carbon
Results from the formation of sedimentary carbonate rocks in oceans
Define biologically derived carbon
Is stored in shale, coal and other sedimentary rocks
Define outgassing
Occurs when terrestrial carbon within the mantle is released into the atmosphere as CO2 when volcanoes erupt
Define chemical weathering
Occurs when CO2 in the atmosphere combines with rainfall to produce weak carbonic acid, which dissolved carbon-rich rocks. This releases bicarbonates, which are eventually deposited as carbon on the ocean floor
Four key processes transfer carbon from one store to another in the cycle
Photosynthesis
Respiration
Decomposition
Combustion
Types of carbon
Inorganic- in rocks as bicarbonate and carbonate (earths largest carbon store)
Organic- found in plant material
Gaseous- found CO2, CH4, CO
How does the biological carbon pump work
Phytoplankton in ocean surface layer contain chlorophyll and need sunlight to live—— the sequester CO2- create shells of calcium carbonate
When they die, carbon rich organisms sink to ocean floor——build up in sediment
Phytoplankton need vast quantities of nutrition
Upwelling currents maintain pump- change in water temp alter flow
Terrestrial store of carbon
Organisms- green plants primary producers that use solar energy
Role of soil in biological carbon
Sequestration- CO2 in atmosphere taken in by plants, some carbon lost through respiration
Storage- decaying organisms containing carbon are buried in the soil. Oxygen poor environment causes slow breakdown resulting in carbon store
Role of mangroves in biological carbon
If drained or cleared carbon released in atmosphere
If 2% of worlds mangroves are lost, the amount of carbon released will be 50 times the natural sequestration rate
How do tundra soils act as carbon stores?
Much of soil in Tundra regions is permanently frozen
Microbe activity only takes place in surface layers when thawed
Roots, dead and decayed organic matter are frozen- locking up carbon
How do tropical forests act as carbon stores?
Litter and dead wood decay are recycled quickly so the soil store barely develops.
Rainforests absorb atmospheric CO2- accounting for 30% of global net primary production
