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carbon > EQ1 > Flashcards

EQ1 Flashcards

1
Q

carbon meaning

A

-building block for life
-its ability to form complex stable molecules w/itself + other elements particularly hydrogen, oxygen n nitrogen is unique
-found everywhere oceans, rocks, soils, the atmosphere and in all forms of life

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2
Q

carbon cycle

A

-cycle which it moves form 1 earth sphere (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere) to another
-its a closed system but made up of interlinked subsystems which r open n have inputs+outputs

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3
Q

stores

A

function as sources (adding carbon to the atmosphere) and sinks (removing carbon from the atmosphere)

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4
Q

fluxes/flows

A

-movements of carbon from one store to another; provide the motion in the carbon cycle
-measured in petagrams or gigatonnes of carbon per year
-major fluxes r between ocean+atmosphere n between land n atmosphere via photosynethesis n respiration
-fluxes may vary n vary in timescales

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5
Q

1b

geological carbon stores

A

-largest store=geological
-theres over 100 mill pg of C in litosphere
-Most lithospheric carbon is concentrated in the sedimentary rocks of the crust

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6
Q

formation of sedimentary rocks

A

-sediments deposited in layers in low-energy enviroment eg lake n sea bed
-further layers r deposisted n sediment undergoes diagenesis (physical n chemical changes that occur during conversion of sediment to sedimentary rock)
-lower layers become compressed n chemical reactions cement particles together
-conversion of loose, unconsolidated sediment into solid rock is known as lithification

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7
Q

limestone

A

-composed of calcium carbonate n 40% carbon by weight
-80% of lithospheric carbon is found in limestones
-it is formed when calcium carbonate is deposited on ocean floor.

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8
Q

limestone formed in oceans

A

-himalyans one of largest carbon stores
- phytoplankton have carbon shells
- when aquatic organism die they sink top bottom of ocean
- more sediment falls on top n theyre compacted
- when its 100m in depth pressure cause cementation to occur
- =forms limestone

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9
Q

other than limestone Carbon is derived form plants n animals in shale, coal n other rocks
biological

A

-these rocks were made up to 300 mill yrs ago from remains of organisms
-remains sank to bottom of rivers/seas/lakes n were covered by slit n mud
-bc of this the remains continued to decay anaerobically n were compressed by further accumulations of dead organisms n sediment
-subsequent burning of fossil fuels has released large amounts of C they contained back into atmosphere
- role of organisms: respiration, photosynethesis, decomposition, combustion

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10
Q

6.1C

Geological Processes Releasing Carbon
*chemical weathering of rocks

A

-co2 in atmosphere reacts w mositure to form weak carbonic acid
-when this falls as rain it reacts w some of the surface minerals n slowly dissolves them
-this is chemical weathering: decomposition of rock minerals in their og position by agents liek water/oxygen/co2 n organic acids

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11
Q

Geological Processes Releasing Carbon
volcanic out gasing at ocean ridges/subduction zones

A

-pockets of co2 exist in earths crust
-eruptions+EQs can release these gas pockets
-outgassing is release of gas previously dissolved,trapped,frozen or absorbed in some material (eg rock)
-it occurs mainly along mid ocean ridges, subduction zones n at magma hotspots

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12
Q

6.2A

Oceanic Sequestering

A

-transfer of co2 into the sea
-Phytoplankton sequester atmospheric carbon during photosynthesis in surface ocean waters; carbonate shells/tests move into the deep ocean water through the carbon pump and through the action of the thermohaline circulation.

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13
Q

oceans as a store

A

-2nd largest store
-its 50 x greater than that of atmosphere
-most of oceanic crust is stored in marine algae,plants n coral
-rest occurs in dissolved form

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14
Q

ocean sequestration

biological pump

A

-these processes transfer between 5 n 15 giggatonnes of carbon from atmosphere to deep ocean yearly
-can take millions of yrs for carbon to move between rocks,soil,rivers, oceans n atmosphere
-effecient but fragile system
-phytoplankton require nutrients in vast quantities
-thermahaline circulation maintains recycling of particles

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15
Q

ocean sequestration

thermohaline circulation

A
  • global system of surface n deep water currents w/in oceans driven by differences in temperature n salinity
  • in CC- warm surface waters r depleted of co2 by evaporation
  • but theyre enriched again as conveyor belt circulation drags them along as deep or bottom layers
  • cold +deep water under pressure can hold more gas- the s ocean around antarctica=important sink =25% of diffusion of co2
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16
Q

oceanic sequestration

carbonate pump

A

-part of biological pump
-these form sediments from dead organisms that fall to the ocean floor, especially the hard outer shells and skeletons of fish, crustaceans and corals, all rich in calcium carbonate.

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17
Q

ocean sequestration

physical pumps

A

-move C compounds to diff parts of ocean in downwelling+upwelling currents
-DW=parts where cold,dense water sinks
-these currents bring dissolved co2 down to deep ocean
-once there moves in slow moving deep ocean currents + stay for hundreds of years
-eventually these deep currents part of TC retrun to surface by UW
-cold deep ocean water warms as rises towards ocean surface n some of dissolved co2 released back into atmosphere

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18
Q

6.2 B

terrestial sequestering

A

-captures and stores co2 in veg + soil w/in a few feet of the Earth’s surface
-terristrial primary producers sequester carbon during photosynthesis, some of this carbon is returned to atmosphere during respiration by consumer organisms

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19
Q

Terrestrial Sequestration

tropical rainforest as carbon stores

A
  • c in Rf=stored in trees, plant litter and dead wood
  • soils=thin bc as litter+dead wood decays they recycle so fast that a soil store doesnt develop
  • tropical rainforests absorb more atmospheric co2 then any other biome
20
Q

Terrestrial Sequestration

terristrial primary producers

A
  • carbon found in plants, animals, soils and micro organisms
  • several processes occur which produce/take in carbon
  • photosynethesis, respiration+decomposition
  • trees-95% of trees biomass make up of co2 that it sequesters
21
Q

TS

tundra and role of soils

A
  • region of biggest carbon store
  • soils in tundra=permanently frozen n contains ancient carbon
  • this c has been trapped for hundreds of thousands of years
  • when permafrost melts not only C is released
  • =positive feedback loop- more methane 21 x more powerful at heating earth compared to co2
22
Q

Terrestrial Sequestration

mangroves n role of soil

A
  • deofrestation + land use change can release c stores v rapidly
  • magroves r found in tropical n subtropical tidal coasts
  • they sequester almost 1.5 mill tonnes of c per hectare yearly
  • mangrove soils consist of thick organic layers of litter, humus+peet (high levels of c)
  • soils=anaerobic(w/out oxygen)=decomposition=slow.= less c released
  • if MG=drained/dead c=released
  • MG=destroyed for tourism n shrimp farms
  • if 2 % of MG=lost amount of C released will be 50X ^ then natural rate
23
Q

Carbon fluxes within ecosystems vary on two timescales:

diurnally

A
  • during the day, fluxes are positive - from the atmosphere into the ecosystem. The reverse applies at night when respiration occurs but not photosynthesis.
24
Q

Carbon fluxes within ecosystems vary on two timescales:

seasonally

A
  • during winter, carbon dioxide concentrations increase because of the low levels of plant growth.
  • However, as soon as spring arrives and plants grow, these concentrations begin to decrease until the onset of autumn.
25
Q

biological carbon

soils

A

-store between 20-30% of global c
-sequester about 2X quantity of C as atmosphere n 3X that of terrestrial veg
-teh actual amount of c stored in soil depends on:
- climate: dictates rates of plant growth n decomposition=both ^ w temperature n rainfall
- veg cover: affects suppy of dead organic matter, heaviest in tropical RF+ least in tundra
- soil type: clay protects c from decompisition=clay rich soils=^ C content
- land use: cultivation n other forms of soil distrubance ^ rate of carbon loss

26
Q

6.3A

greenhouse effect
how it works/what it is?

A

-sun heats earth surface
-green house gases in atmosphere trap this heat in atmosphere
-they absorb n refelct some of radiated heat from earths surface
by retaining this heat they keep earths surface 16 degrees warmer then would be otherwise-warm enough to sustain life on earth

27
Q

human enhanced greenhouse gase effect

A

-concentration if greenhouse gases in atmosphere has ^ by 25% since 1750 when industrailisation begun in uk n now ^ faster than ever
-since 1980s 75% of co2 emissions have come from burning fossil fuels lead to EGE

28
Q

carbon dioxide

A
  • 89% of greenhouse gases produced
  • sources=burning fossil fuels, deforestation
  • warming lower compared to co2=1
  • % increase since 1850: +30%
29
Q

methane

A
  • 7% of greenhouse gases produced
  • sources=gas pipeline leak, rice farming, cattle farming
  • warming power compared to co2=21
  • % increase since 1850: +250%
  • stays in atmosphere for 10 years
30
Q

nitrous oxide (N20)

A
  • 7% of greenhouse gases produced
  • sources=gas pipeline leak, rice farming, cattle farming
  • warming power compared to co2=21
  • % increase since 1850: +250%
  • stays in atmosphere for 10 years
31
Q

halocarbons

A
  • 1% of greenhouse gases produced
  • sources=industry, solvents n coding equipment
  • warming power compared to co2=3000
  • % increase since 1850: not natural
32
Q

earths climate=driven by incoming short-wave radiation

A
  • 31% is reflected back into space by clouds, GHGs + land surface
  • remaining 69% =absorbed at Earth’s surface, especially by oceans
  • much of this radiation absorbed at surface= re-radiated as long wave radiation
  • large amounts of LWR are, however, prevented from returning into space by clouds + GHGs
  • trapped long-wave radiation is then re-radiated back to the Earth’s surface
  • this trapped, re-radiated, LW energy that constitutes the natural GHE + controls mean global temp.
  • also determines distributions of both heat + precipitation
33
Q

albedo

A
  • a measure of how reflective a surface is.
  • snow reflects heat
  • dark forests absorb it
34
Q

climate patterns

temperature

A
  • amount of solar energy reaching earths surface varies at diff locations=influences temp
  • angle of suns rays makes solar insolation intense at equator but dispered over wider area of poles
  • heats redistrubuted around globe by air movement (wind) caused by both pressure differences n ocean currents
35
Q

climate patterns

precipitation

A

-heat of atmosphere n surface controls temp, pressure, movement n moisture content of air
- warm air rises n cools leading water vapour to condense n clouds to form
- as radiation=most inetnse over equator, convection n low pressure systems dominate there. rainfall=^ yearly
- as air pressure rises 30 N n S of equator precipitation decreases. clouds rarely form
- mid latitudes: air masses of diff characteristics meet n low pressure systems bring rainfall
- nearer poles, perciptation falls as air cools further n=dense n dry= polar deserts
-regional n seasonal variations occur

36
Q

6.3B

balanced carbon cycle

A

the outcome of different components working in a sort of harmony with each other.

37
Q

natural regulation

atmosphere n photosynethesis

A
  • phytoplankton in oceans sequester co2 via process of photosynethesis- pumping it out atmosphere n into ocean store=biological c pump
  • transfers 5-15 gt C annually
  • terrestrial photosynethesis enables plants to sequester 100-120Gt of co2 yearly
  • its released back to atmosphere by respiration n decompisition
  • tropical RF=ideal for plant growth=^ photosyenthsis
  • coral reefs n mangroves=same as land RF=warm tropical shallow waters=ideal
  • deserts=areas of sparse veg= little co2 absorbed there
38
Q

natural regulation

soil n carbon

A
  • amount of organic carbon stored w/in soil= inputs (plant litter n animal waste) minus outputs (decompistion, erosion n uptake in plant growth)
  • size of store depends on diff biomes
39
Q

healthy soils are….

A
  • resilence to wet weather as they enable infiltration + percolation of water
  • dark, crumby + porous, worms +organisms
  • provide air, water+nutrients for microorganisms/plants to thrive
  • ^ carbon/organic matter
  • sequester carbon
40
Q

fossil fuel combustion

balance

A

-its important to have balance between stores and sinks of carbon as it helps to stabilise global temps
flows that ahve increased: human activities have^ co2 inputs into atmosphere w/out any corresponding ^ in natural sinks which cause ^ in global temps

41
Q

fossil fuel combustion

implications for climate

eu temps rising, rain n storm patterns

A
  • temp variations in eu due to rising co2 concentartiosn: annual land temps r projected to ^ by more then global average
  • largest ^ expected to be over eastern n northern eu in winter n over southern in summer
  • rains projeted to ^ in north eu n decrease in south eu- increasing teh differences between regions that r currently wet n those currently dry
  • extreme weather events r likely to ^ in both intenisty and frequency
42
Q

fossil fuel combustion

arctic amplification

A
  • arctics warming 2X as fast as global averag
  • = known as arctic amplification
  • melting permafrost releases co2 n ch4, increasing concentration of these greenhouse gases in atmosphere n leading to ^ global temps n more melting
  • whihc is a positive feedback loop
  • CC is altering the arctic tundra ecosystem
  • rapid warming has added to melting of sea ice in summer and also reduced snow cover n permafrost
  • shrubs n trees used to not be able to survive in tundra now can
  • also true for animals= in alaska red fox has spread north n now competes w arctic fox for food n territory
43
Q

permafrost not release stored carbon n methane

A
  • some studies show as PF thaws the stored carbon remains in soil n used by new veg
  • warmer temps accelerate decomposition, releasing carbon n nutrients
  • nutrients encourage plant growth n removal of carbon from atmosphere via photosynethesis= decrease level of greenhouse gases in atmosphere
44
Q

positive feedback loop

A
45
Q

fossil fuel combustion

implication for hydrological cycle

A
  • projected chnages to temp+rain patterns over eu=impact HC
  • in summer much of eus water comes from melting alpine glaciers
  • climate scientists say by 2100 the east alps will be ice free n some of west alps. affects on the HC:
  • rain in form of snow could diminish n rainfall patterns chnage
  • river discharge patterns may also change, w/greater flooding in winter n drought in summer
  • as alp glaciers melt water flows lead to ^ sediment yield. once glaciers have retreated, discharge n sediment yields fall n water quality declines
46
Q

not on spec

7 major biomes

A
  • Tropical Rainforest: near equator, ^ rainfall, have greatest diversity of species
    amazon rf
  • Temperate Forest: 4 distinct seasons w variety of fauna n flora including decidous trees
    europe n north america
  • Desert: minimal rainfall that can be hot or cold, w specialised adaptions in organisms to survive harsh conditions sahra in africa
  • Tundra: in high northern latitudes characterstised by low temps, permafrost n lack of large trees due to short growing seasons
    north pole, arctic tundra
  • Taiga (Boreal Forest):
  • Grassland/pairies: maintain mix of grasses as main veg due to drought, fire+grazing by large herbivores
  • Savannahs: between tropical rf n desert- have wet n dry season w veg dominated by grasses n scattered trees

carbon (3 decks)

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