Carbon Lesson 2: Carbon Cycle Processes

Question 1

Define what a source is

Answer 1

Addition of carbon to the atmosphere / causing it to shrink, releasing more carbon into the atmosphere

Question 2

Examples of sources

Answer 2

Combustion, volcanoes, respiration, litterfall

Question 3

Define what a sink is

Answer 3

Remove of carbon from the atmosphere / grow in size, storing more carbon

Question 4

Examples of sinks

Answer 4

Oceans, photosynthesis, soils

Question 5

What term is used to describe the point at which sources and sinks occur at the same rate?

Answer 5

Equilibrium

Question 6

What is a positive feedback loop?

Answer 6

Amplyfy change in a system - shifts the system towards a new state

Question 7

What is a negative feedback system?

Answer 7

Stabilises change in a system - prevents the system moving beyond a certain threshold

Question 8

How many tonnes of carbon are contained on Earth?

Answer 8

1.85 billion billion tonnes

Question 9

What % of carbon is held in the interior (crust, mantle, core)?

Answer 9

99%

Question 10

How many tonnes of carbon are found on the Earth’s surface?

Answer 10

43, 500 tonnes

Question 11

How much more carbon is released by human activities than geological emissions?

Answer 11

40-100 times more

Question 12

What is the name of the volcano in Iceland which erupted in 2010?

Answer 12

Eyjafjallajokull

Question 13

How much carbon was emitted per day by this volcano?

Answer 13

150 000 - 300 000 tonnes a day

Question 14

How little did the emissions from the volcano contribute to global emissions of GHGs in 2010?

Answer 14

Less than 0.3%

Question 15

What natural system is an example of a carbon sink?

Answer 15

The Amazon Rainforest

Question 16

What are the 4 key processes of the bio-geochemical carbon cycle?

Answer 16

Photosynthsis
Respiration
Decomposition
Combustion