ELSS Carbon Glossary

Question 1

Biological weathering

Answer 1

The breakdown of rocks through chemical and physical action of living organisms

Question 2

Carbon sink

Answer 2

A long term of carbon in ocean sediment, carbonate rocks, forests etc

Question 3

Carbon source

Answer 3

Inputs of carbon to the atmosphere by respiration, combustion and decomposition

Question 4

Carbonaceous rocks

Answer 4

Rocks mainly comprising the fossilised remains of plants, e.g. lignite and coal

Question 5

Carbonate rock

Answer 5

Rocks comprising carbonate minerals e.g. limestone

Question 6

Chemical weathering

Answer 6

The in situ breakdown of rocks by chemical processes such as oxidation, solution, chelation and hydrolysis

Question 7

Combustion

Answer 7

Process of burning

Question 8

Decomposer

Answer 8

An organism often a bacterium or fungus that feeds on and breaks down dead plant or animal matter

Question 9

Diffusion

Answer 9

Process of spreading of particles within liquids and gases

Question 10

Downwelling

Answer 10

The sinking of sense, salty water in the oceans

Question 11

Flux

Answer 11

The rate of energy transfer per unit area

Question 12

Gigaton

Answer 12

1 billion tons

Question 13

Lithification

Answer 13

The transformation of sediment into rock

Question 14

Marine snow

Answer 14

The remains or organisms living in the oceans upper layer, which falls to deeper water.

Question 15

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

Answer 15

The rate at which plants accumulate energy in the form of organic matter taking into account the energy used in respiration

Question 16

Photic zone

Answer 16

Shallow layer of water in the ocean that light penetrates, on average to about 50m

Question 17

Photosynthesis

Answer 17

Process by which green plants convert water and co2 into starch and sugar in the presence of sunlight

Question 18

Phytoplankton

Answer 18

Tiny photosynthesising marine organisms in the surface waters of the ocean

Question 19

Primary producer

Answer 19

Green plants (both terrestrial and marine) that converts sunlight , co2 and mineral nutrients into photosynthesis, into organic matter

Question 20

respiration

Answer 20

The process in living organisms where the intake of oxygen oxidises organic substances to produce energy and release co2

Question 21

Sequestration

Answer 21

The removal and storage of carbon from the atmosphere in carbon sinks ( such as oceans, forests or soils) through physical or biological processes

Question 22

Terrestrial

Answer 22

On land

Question 23

Thermohaline circulation

Answer 23

The global pattern of ocean currents driven primarily by differences in temperature and salinity

Question 24

Zooplankton

Answer 24

Tiny marine animals living in the surface waters of the ocean