Geography: Carbon Cycle Flashcards
What is the geological carbon cycle?
- long term carbon cycle involving carbon moving through 3 major stores: land, ocean and air.
- closed system
- cycle is generally balanced.
give an example to show how the geological carbon cycle is balanced. (volcano)
- volcanic eruptions send CO2 into the atmosphere.
- results in rising temperatures, increased evaporation and more atmospheric moisture.
- leads to acid rain, which weathers rocks and creates biocarbonates.
- this rebalances the cycle.
name some outputs of the geological carbon cycle.
- animal shells/skeletons.
- decaying vegetation forms coal.
- sands and clays compact to form sandstone.
- photosynthesis
name some inputs of the geological carbon cycle.
- combustion of fossil fuels.
- volcanic eruptions.
- decomposition of bones, shells etc.
- chemical weathering.
What is the bio-geochemical carbon cycle?
movement of carbon through the geological carbon cycle as well as through living organisms.
What are the 4 key processes in the bio-geochemical carbon cycle?
- photosynthesis
- respiration
- decomposition
- combustion
list the earth’s carbon stores from biggest to smallest
- mantle
- sedimentary rocks
- ocean and land biota
What are residence times?
the average time carbon spends in a reservoir.
What is the biological carbon pump?
this is the ocean’s biologically driven sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere to deep sea water and sediment. some CO2 is absorbed into oceans and some is vented.
What is the marine carbon pump?
involves the production and recycling of 2 types of carbon: organic matter and carbonate.
What is the physical carbon pump?
CO2 distributed throughout oceans by upwelling and downwelling. this is the global transfer of carbon, deep ocean conveyor does this.
what is the role of thermohaline circulation in the physical carbon pump?
it drives the physical carbon pump. the currents are responsible for moving carbon around the oceans. transfers carbon between stores.
how do primary producers sequester carbon?
its absorbed into the chlorophyll of plants in the process of photosynthesis.
what is the effect of increasing temperature on:
- climate
- ecosystems
- hydrological cycle
CLIMATE:
Antarctic ice shelves will melt, changing density and convection in the southern ocean
ECOSYSTEMS:
biodiversity reduced as habitats shift poleward or due to lower rainfall and soil moisture. tundra effected by thawing permafrost which releases trapped methane.
HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE:
rivers dry up due to low precipitation in certain regions.
name some factors which can effect the energy mix of a country
- physical landscape
- GDP
- governance
- access to resources
how does physical availability affect the energy mix of the UK and Norway?
UK
- until the 1970s, the UK relied on coal from Yorkshire etc.
- following the discovery of oil and gas reserves, the energy mix has changed.
- as of recent, the government has considered more eco-friendly ways of getting energy.
NORWAY
-HEP is the main energy source due to the physical landscape.
How does technology affect the energy mix of the UK and Norway?
UK
- last deep coal mine closed in 2015, still have many more coal reserves but it’s too expensive to extract.
- deepwater drilling in the North Sea
NORWAY
-deepwater drilling in the North Sea
what is energy security?
ensuring access to reliable/affordable energy to meet current and future demands
what are the 3 main goals of the world energy council?
- energy security
- energy equity
- environmental sustainability
what is the role of consumers in energy production?
- they express their views on different energy sources which can influence decisions made by governments/TNCs.
- make purchasing choices
what is the role of national governments in energy production?
DANISH GOVT.
- invest a significant amount of money in wind power.
- aim to be fossil fuel free by 2050
- they’ve shared their knowledge of wind power with other countries
what is the role of energy TNCs in energy production?
- open up new energy pathways.
- TNCs wish to keep trade flowing and control prices
- governments can put them under state control to maximise income.
what is the role of OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) in energy production?
- co-ordinates member countries’ oil policies
- generates a stable income by regulating oil export prices.
what are the alternative energy sources available to the UK?
-the eden project and ECS energy plan to build the UK’s first geothermal power plant in St. Austell
describe the trans-Siberia gas pipeline in terms of its geographical area and history of conflict.
- transports gas from Russia to the whole of Europe via Ukraine.
- tensions have escalated as they cut off gas supply to Ukraine. Further conflict in the Crimea following annexation.
how is deep water oil extracted and what are the possible consequences?
drill into the seabed to exploit oil reserves, transported using pipelines.
consequences: risk of storms causing damage to pipelines, long distance from shore to pipelines.
name some radical energy sources and their uses.
- hydrogen fuel cells: no pollution but hydrogen is difficult to safely store so it can be dangerous.
- electric cars: no emissions, however, charging is time-consuming and they’re expensive to buy.
both are only small-scale and are only available to developed and emerging economies.
name some renewable energy sources, include advantages and disadvantages.
HEP:
- increases the availability of water.
- expensive and depends on physical factors.
SOLAR:
- supplies free electricity.
- small scale
- efficiency depends on availability of sunlight.
TIDAL:
- no waste products
- can’t be used in land-locked countries
WIND:
- accessible by any country.
- visual pollution.
what is the strait of hormuz and what conflict has happened there?
- oil shipping pathway in the Middle East.
- was hijacked by pirates carrying $100b in crude oil
- iran threatened to close the pathway if the EU sanctioned its exports.
- France, UK and USA sent in naval ships to monitor the area.
to what extent is the UK energy secure?
NOT SECURE:
- imports 60% of fuel.
- 150 years of coal sources left.
- can’t be fully secure until it decreases reliance on fossil fuel imports.
SECURE:
- 22% of fuel from renewable sources in 2015.
- any fuel that isn’t imported is from renewable sources within the UK.
