Change over time in water and carbon cycles Flashcards
equilibrium of the cycles and how it is maintained
dynamic equilibrium with short term fluctuations but in the long term is is balanced, maintained by negative feedback loop
urbanisation affecting the cycles
less surface vegetation to absorb CO2, energy consumption and industry release CO2, cement manufacture emits CO2
forestry affecting the cycles
increases carbon stores, most carbon stored in wood of trees for hundreds of years, planting cycle every 100 yrs case after that trees arent carbon sink
farming affecting the cycles
reduced carbon store when clearing forests for farming, ploughing reduces soil carbon storage, livestock release methane, emissions from tractors
impact of burning fossil fuels
87% of global energy is from fossil fuels, 10GT released every year, main cause of global warming
impact of carbon sequestration
carbon capture and storage (CCS) possible solution to anthropogenic carbon but extremely expensive and uses lots of energy
negative feedback in carbon cycle
carbon fertilisation is when rising CO2 levels encourage more photosynthesis so more carbon gets stored in the biosphere
positive feedback in carbon cycle
more global warming can melt ice and therefore melt permafrost, releasing decomposed matter and carbon
diurnal changes on carbon cycle
carbon flows from atm to vegetation in the day and opposite at night as low sunlight reduce photosynthesis
seasonal changes on carbon cycle
during summer net flow of CO2 is from atm to biosphere as vegetation is in full foliage and photosynthesis is faster
long term changes in carbon cycle
less atm CO2 during glacials, phytoplankton grows rapid and stores CO2 and die so carbon is stored deep, less soil carbon exchange due to ice, more ice so less photosynthesis
