Global distribution and size of stores of carbon Flashcards

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1
Q

What is anthropogenic CO2?

A

carbon dioxide generated by human activity

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2
Q

What is the biosphere?

A

total sum of all living matter

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3
Q

What is a carbon sink?

A
  • a store of carbon that absorbs more carbon than it releases
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4
Q

What is a carbon source?

A
  • a store of carbon that releases more carbon than it absorbs
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5
Q

What are greenhouse gases?

A
  • any gas in the atmosphere capable of absorbing infrared radiation
  • this traps heat in the atmosphere
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6
Q

What is the lithosphere?

A

includes the crust and uppermost mantle

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7
Q

Which store in the lithosphere holds the most carbon?

A
  • fossil fuel deposits of coal, oil, and gas

- contain approximately 4,100 GtC

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8
Q

What are the 5 major stores of carbon?

A
  • lithosphere
  • cryosphere
  • hydrosphere
  • biosphere
  • atmosphere
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9
Q

The oceanic carbon store is divided into what?

A
  • surface layer (900 GtC)
  • twilight zone (37,100 GtC)
  • living and dissolved organic matter (730 GtC)
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10
Q

Total oceanic carbon?

A

between 37,000 and 40,000 GtC

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11
Q

Total amount of carbon stored in the terrestrial biosphere?

A

estimated at 3,170 GtC

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12
Q

What are the main stores of carbon in the terrestrial biosphere?

A
  • living vegetation
  • plant litter
  • soil humus
  • peat
  • animals
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13
Q

Features of living vegetation as a store of carbon in the terrestrial biosphere?

A
  • carbon stored directly in the tissues of plants

- 19% of the carbon in the Earth’s biosphere is stored in plants

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14
Q

What is plant litter?

A
  • fresh, undecomposed and easily recognisable plant debris
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15
Q

What is soil humus?

A
  • originates from litter decomposition

- thick brown/black substance that remains after most organic litter has decomposed

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16
Q

What is peat?

A
  • an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter
17
Q

Features of peat?

A
  • unique to peatlands or mires

- extremely flammable