EGS Frank Week 5 Atmospheric CO2

Question 1

Overview P1/3

• Atmospheric CO2 concentration in the atmos. is ()
• The values are generally on the (), but also depict a ().
• The () is driven by (), mostly associated w. (), while () is controlled by the () & () of () on an ().

Answer 1

• Atmospheric CO2 concentration in the atmos. is variable.
• The values are generally on the increase, but also depict a strong seasonality.
• The increase is driven by human carbon emissions, mostly associated w. fossil fuel emissions, while seasonality is controlled by the growth & decay of vegetation on an unequally distributed earth surface.

Question 2

Overview P2/3

• The () is driven by the growth of () in the () hemisphere btwn. () to () and the () is driven by the decay of () btwn. () and ()
• Long term trends clearly show a () from ca () to more than ().

Answer 2

• The seasonal fall is driven by the growth of summer veg. in the Northern hemisphere btwn. June to September and the rise is driven by the decay of veg. btwn. October and May.
• Long term trends clearly show a sudden increase from ca 250ppm to more than 400ppm.

Question 3

Overview P3/3

• () is also making a contribution and include () & keeping of ().
• The () overall is releasing more CO2 & taking up less.
• Some of it is taken up by the () which causes ().
• The () of atmospheric carbon causes ().

Answer 3

• Land Surface Changes are also making a contribution and include deforestation & keeping of livestock.
• The Land Surface overall is releasing more CO2 & taking up less.
• Some of it is taken up by the ocean which causes acidification.
• The Net Increase of atmospheric carbon causes global warming.

Question 4

Description of the global atmospheric CO2 curve:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)

Answer 4

1. Increasing exponentially since industrial revolution
2. Correlates w. increase in fossil fuel consumption.
3. Atmospheric CO2 concentration in the atmos is variable
4. The values are generally on the increase but also depict a strong seasonality
5. Earth is warming as a result of increased CO2 & Greenhouse effect.

Question 5

Who are in charge of producing climate change reports?

Answer 5

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Question 6

What are its causes & controls? P1/3

• The () is driven by (), mostly associated with ().
• () is controlled by the () & () of () on an ().
• The () is driven by the () of summer vegetation in the () btwn. () to () and the () is caused by the () of vegetation btwn. () & ().

Answer 6

• The increase is driven by human carbon emissions, mostly associated w. fossil fuel emissions.
• Seasonality is controlled by the growth & decay of veg. biomass on an unequally distributed earth surface.
• The seasonal decline is driven by the growth of summer vegetation in the northern hemisphere btwn. June to September and the rise is caused by the decay of vegetation btwn. October & May

Question 7

What are its causes & controls? P2/3

• Long term trends clearly show a () from ca () to more than () -> this () of atmospheric carbon causes ().
• The () btwn. the (), (), and () are naturally in a () or ().
• However, relying on () as part of the modern human enterprise, () carbon from () to the ().

Answer 7

• Long term trends clearly show a rapid increase from ca 250ppm to more than 400ppm -> this net increase of atmospheric carbon causes global warming
• The carbon exchanges btwn. the Biosphere (Gt), Ocean (Gt) & Atmos. (Gt) are naturally in a state of balance or equilibrium.
• However, relying on Fossil Fuel (Gt) as part of the modern human enterprise, returns carbon from deep storage to the atmos..

Question 8

What are its causes & controls P3/3

• In addition, land use changes from () & () to () & () is () the ability to () into () & further exacerbates ().
• The increase of () also releases () from () which act as a () to further warming.

Answer 8

• In addition, land use changes from forests & savannahs to farming & rangelands is reducing the ability to absorb CO2 into Biomass & further exacerbates atmospheric carbon concentrations.
• The increase of global temps. also releases greenhouse gases from organic rich high latitude permafrost soils which act as a positive feedback mechanism to further warming.

Question 9

Carbon Cycle & Global Warming P1/3

• The global air temperature is governed by ().
• This () can be () or () by the () & ().
• () may also be ().
• Some () will be radiated by ().

Answer 9

• The global air temp. is governed by the amount of solar energy radiated from the sun.
• This energy can be absorbed or reflected by the earth surface & atmos.
• Energy may also be scattered.
• Some energy will be radiated by Earth itself.

Question 10

Carbon Cycle & Global Warming P2/3

• The () will be modulated by the (), the () & ().
• Greenhouse gases, such as (), (), & (), which occur (), play a role in ().
• Greenhouse gases () & and () () more efficiently than () like () & ().

Answer 10

• The total energy budget will be modulated by the earth surface, the atmos. & associated greenhouse gas composition.
• Greenhouse gases, such as water vapour, CO2 & methane, which occur naturally in small amounts (ca 2%), play a role in warming the atmos.
• Greenhouse gases absorb & release heat energy more efficiently than abundant atmospheric gases like Nitrogen (78%) & Oxygen (20%).

Question 11

Carbon Cycle & Global Warming P3/3

• Thus, () in () concentration have a () on the ().
• The presence of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is controlled by () that () btwn. the (), (), (), & ().

Answer 11

• Thus, small increases in CO2 concentration (0.04%) have a large effect on the climate system.
• The presence of greenhouse gases in the atmos. is controlled by Biogeochemical cycles that move these components btwn. the ocean, land, life & atmospheric reservoirs.

Question 12

Exercise:

1. Picture the Global Flows of Carbon Picture
2. What is the measurement of carbon that they are using & at what time scale?
3. Now what is the exact unit used?
4. The Atmosphere contains how much?
5. Plants & Soil contain how much?
6. Oceans contain how much?
7. Deep Ocean stores contain how much?
8. Plants & Soil contribute & receive how much to & from the atmos?
9. Oceans contribute & receive how much to & from the atmos?
10. What else contains carbon and contributes to the atmos and by how much?

Answer 12

1. (http://)https://in.pinterest.com/pin/33354853468601424/
2. Petagrams of Carbon/Year
3. PgC (1 PgC = 1 billion tons of carbon).
4. ~820 PgC
5. ~2,000 PgC
6. ~800 PgC
7. ~40,000 PgC
8. Contribute (>100 PgC w. deforestation contributing btwn. 1-2) & Receive (~100 PgC)
9. Contribute (~100 PgC) & Receive (>100 PgC)
10. Global Oil Gas contains ~10,000 PgC & contributes (~ 7.7 PgC).

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/33354853468601424/

Question 13

Where is global CO2 sampled & why?

Answer 13

• @ Mauna Loa Observatory
• Bc it is @ a high altitude & far from pollution which would give it a more accurate measurement

Question 14

Stratospheric Ozone P1/2

• Ozone blocks (), and its loss may cause () & thus a response was needed.
• Humans were swiftly associated with () in the ().
• This was caused by () & ().

Answer 14

• Ozone blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation and its loss may cause damage to health e.g. skin cancer & thus a response was needed.
• Humans were swfitly associated with the lowering of polar stratospheric ozone (O3) in the 1980s.
• This was caused by manufactured chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) & related ozone depleting substances.

Question 15

Stratospheric Ozone P2/2

• This resulted in the () which can be regarded as the most successful () as it () these harmful substances.
• Ozone () and () was noted in the () and in () the ozone hole was the () since its discovery in ().
• () is an example of a () and seemingly () to a natural disaster

Answer 15

• This resulted in the Montreal Protocol which can be regarded as the most successful international environmental agreement as it banned these harmful substances.
• Ozone stabilization & recovery was noted in the 2000s and in 2019 the ozone hole was the smallest since its discovery in 1982.
• The Ozone Hole is an example of a quick and seemingly successful response to a natural disaster.