🌍 elss sg2

Question 1

SG2!!! why is carbon essential for life on earth?

Answer 1

• bonds with lots of other elements to form compounds
• photosynthesis
• respiration in animals
• insulates earth
• economic resource eg fossil fuels, raw materials for manufacturing

Question 2

what kind of system is the carbon cycle

Answer 2

closed because we’re not gaining anymore carbon matter only energy from the sun

Question 3

how much of global carbon (%) is stored in these stores:
sedimentary rock
oceans
atmosphere

Answer 3

sedimentary rock- 69%
oceans- 27%
atmosphere- 0.5%

Question 4

carbon sequestration definition

Answer 4

transfer of carbon from atmosphere to plants, soil and rocks and ocean

Question 5

NPP definition

Answer 5

net primary productivity - amount of carbon sequestered by plants per metre squared each year

Question 6

carbon source definition

Answer 6

anything that releases more carbon into the atmosphere than it absorbs

Question 7

carbon sink definition

Answer 7

anythinh that absorbs more carbon than it releases

Question 8

describe global distribution of terrrestrial carbon

Answer 8

lots of carbon stored in areas with lots of vegetation eg amazon rainforest (climate allows lots of growth)

Question 9

describe distribution of atmospheric carbon

Answer 9

most carbon in atmosphere in spring bc vegetation has no leaves so cant store as much. also more ppl use heating through winter so more fossil fuels burnt. through summer, less carbon in atmosphere bc photosynthesis increases

Question 10

describe distribution of oceanic carbon

Answer 10

warmer temps in ocean near equator so more carbon lost to atmosphere. whereas in colder areas more carbon absorbed by ocean

Question 11

photosynthesis

Answer 11

when plants convert water and carbon into starch and sugar in sunlight

Question 12

decomposition

Answer 12

when dead plants/animals are broken down into the soil

Question 13

respiration

Answer 13

when living organisms take in oxygen to produce energy and carbon

Question 14

soil respiration

Answer 14

production of carbon when soil organisms respire

Question 15

combustion

Answer 15

burning - could be burning of fossil fuels (human) or forest fires (natural)

Question 16

diffusion

Answer 16

spreading of particles within liquids and gases

Question 17

explain physical pump

Answer 17

• carbon dioxide diffuses into ocean
• currents transport carbon poleward
• carried to ocean depths
• could remain for a long time
• then carbon rich water is transported to surfaces and then carbon is diffused from surface

Question 18

explain biological pump

Answer 18

• phytoplankton absorbs carbon from atmosphere
• fish eat phytoplankton
• fish dies and sinks to ocean floor
• dish decomposes so carbon is not on ocean floor
• as floor compacts under pressure unit becomes solid sedimentary rock

Question 19

what is the fast carbon cycle

Answer 19

where carbon circulates quickly between atmosphere, oceans, organisms and soils

Question 20

what is the slow carbon cycle

Answer 20

how weathering and tectonic processes control amount of carbon in atmosphere