Human And Physical Causes Of Change In The Carbon Cycle Flashcards
List the natural causes for changes in the carbon cycle
Wildfires
Volcanic activity
Warm conditions
Cool conditions
List human causes for change in the carbon cycle
Farming practices Urbanisation Deforestation Landuse changes Extraction and burning of hydrocarbons
What do colder conditions do to the carbon cycle?
Cold water holds more co2 meaning the water is more acidic, meaning more weathering will occur
Decomposition is slower, so transfer is slower to the soil
Frozen soil means less transfer through soil respiration to the atmosphere
Less water flows into the oceans as more Is frozen, therefore less sediment is transferred to the ocean floor
Colder temps affect the amount of forest cover and it’s location. Affecting the amount of carbon
What do warmed conditions do to the carbon cycle?
Warm water holds less co2
Decomposition is faster so transfer is faster to soil
Warmer temp may mean more plant growth
More wildfires may occur
How can wildfires affect the carbon cycle?
A forest which would’ve been a carbon a sink turn into a source especially where peat also burns,(decomposed by organic matter)
How can volcanic activity affect the carbon cycle?
Volcanic eruptions emits 130-380million tonnes of co2 a year. This is small in comparison to 30billion by humans.
How can deforestation affect the carbon cycle? Lost some facts about it
This occurring all around the world but particularly fast in the tropics.
It accounts for 20% of global carbon dioxide emissions.
When trees are burnt co2 is released into the atmosphere, the soil is more prone to erosion, becomes less fertile and holds less co2.
The new land use is also likely to sequester less co2
How can land use affect the carbon cycle and list facts about it.
A range of land-use changes connected to industrialisation and development particularly of developing nations leading to increased levels of co2.
Deforestation and planting of oil palms.
Urbanisation.
Draining of wetlands which are massive carbon sinks.
In extraction and burning of hydrocarbons, what happened millions of years ago?
Plants locked away carbon from the earths atmosphere.
(EABOH) what did remaining plants do?
Plants remained buried deep under other sediments becoming sedimentary rocks. Then forming coal and oil
What happens to hydrocarbons when they’re undisturbed?
The carbon remains locked away
Why are co2 levels incredibly high?
Because humans found it a useful source of energy in the industrial time.
What does urbanisation do?
It removes carbon sinks in both soil and vegetation
More urban areas also mean more industry (more fossil fuels)
Cement for building is a large source of co2.
