Carbon Eq1 Flashcards
what is the carbon cycle
The carbon cycle is the cycle by which carbon moves from one Earth sphere (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere) to another. It is a closed system.
whats a carbon store
a reservoir that holds and accumulates carbon for a period of time, preventing it from entering the atmosphere eg. soil, plants
carbon sink
A carbon sink is a system that absorbs and stores more carbon than it releases, it moves carbon into a carbon store. eg. photosynthesis absorbs carbon and stores in biomass
carbon source
Sources transfer more carbon out of stores and release it into the atmosphere eg. deforestation
where is most carbon stored
stored in carbonate rocks
feedback loop
A feedback loop is a system where a change in one component of a system causes changes in other components. effect may be dampened or amplified
tipping point
if carbon dioxide passes a certain level it will be difficult to reverse the effects of climate change. eg. increased extreme weather events
the fast carbon cycle
The fast carbon cycle is a part of the carbon cycle that involves the rapid exchange of carbon between the atmosphere, biosphere, and oceans, typically occurring over days to decades.
organic (living) processes in fast/biological carbon cycle
photosynthesis- plants and phytoplankton absorb CO2 to produce glucose
respiration- animals eat the plants/ plants release energy and respire CO2 back into the atmosphere
decomposition-When plants and animals die, their bodies are broken down by decomposers, Decomposers release carbon back into the atmosphere as CO₂
combustion- Burning organic material, whether from wildfires or human activities like fossil fuel burning, releases stored carbon as CO₂ back into the atmosphere
non organic process in fast carbon cycle
Ocean-Atmosphere Exchange (Carbon moving between air and water)
CO₂ dissolves in the surface of the ocean, which then helps maintain a balance between atmospheric CO₂ and carbon in the oceans.
stages in slow carbon cycle
- Weathering of Rocks:
The process begins with the weathering of silicate rocks on land, this forms carbonic acid and gets carried into oceans by rivers - Formation of Sedimentary Rocks
In the oceans, carbon is used by plankton to form calcium carbonate shells. Over time, these organisms die and their remains settle on the ocean floor, lithication occurs forming sedimentary rocks such as limestone - sedimentary rocks are pushed into earths mantle
- at subduction zones carbon will be ejected. carbonic acid in gas clouds will cause acid rain and rocks will be eroded causing cycle to start again
how long does slow cycle last
millions of years
flux
the rate of movement of carbon between stores in petagrams
what are the three carbon pumps
biological
physical
carbonate
what are carbon pumps
Carbon pumps are processes that transfer carbon between different carbon stores within the ocean
biological pump
Phytoplankton absorb dissolved CO₂ from the surface ocean during photosynthesis. They get eaten and enter the food web and when marine organisms respire carbon gets returned to the atmosphere
carbonate pump
marine organisms use carbonate ions to form their shell. the carbon is locked away for years and is released when they die and sink. lithification happens to form limestone
physical pump
downwelling current occurs in areas where cold water sinks and brings dissolved co2 to deep ocean. eventually co2 returns to surface in upwelling and co2 released back to atmosphere
importance of soil in carbon cycle
Soil contains more carbon than the atmosphere and all plant and animal life combined, making it a vital component in regulating atmospheric CO₂ levels. when soils lose their carbon it becomes degraded
enhanced green house effect
humans affecting the greenhouse affect and making it damaging
greenhouse affect
natural processes the earth needs
earth would be -18 without
explain greenhouse affect
The greenhouse effect occurs when solar radiation reaches the Earth’s surface, where some is absorbed, and the rest is reflected back into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane trap some of this outgoing infrared radiation, preventing it from escaping back into space. This trapped heat warms the Earth’s atmosphere, maintaining an average global temperature of approximately 15°C, which is essential for sustaining life. However, human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation have intensified the natural greenhouse effect by increasing the concentration of GHGs, leading to enhanced global warming.
implications of the greenhouse effect
-increased global temp
-more extreme weather events
-higher sea levels due to ice melting
-marine organisms threatened by increased sea temp and coral bleaching
