Humans threaten the carbon and water cycles

Question 1

Name the two main human impacts on the carbon cycle

Answer 1

Burning of fossil fuels and land use and cover change

Question 2

Name the four human impacts on the water cycle

Answer 2

Hydroelectricity
Irrigation
Deforestation
Greenhouse effect

Question 3

The release of carbon from fossil fuels occurs naturally because they subduct in the (1) and are released as (2) but humans are extracting fuels from the (3) which is most noticeable since the (4)
The activities most affecting this are (5) refining and paper and (6) production

Answer 3

1 - mantle
2 - volcanic activity
3 - lithosphere
4 - industrial revolution
5 - petroleum refining
6 - food

Question 4

Land use change can influence the carbon cycle in two ways; removal of (1) eliminates the capacity of natural CCS through (2)
Secondly, forests are replaced by built or (3) environments which creates a (4) decrease of carbon stored by less efficient plant replacements and increased soil erosion

Answer 4

1 - vegetation
2 - photosynthesis
3 - pasture
4 - net

Question 5

Increasing CO2 and CH4 in the atmosphere causes a rise in global temperature which increases soil (1) causing release of (2) this can also cause a rise in (3) and ocean (4) which limits its ability to (5) carbon

Answer 5

1 - decomposition
2 - CO2
3 - sea level
4 - temperature
5 - absorb and store

Question 6

What is the concern with geologic sequestration?

Answer 6

Capturing carbon and storing it underground reduces CO2 above ground which disturbs the natural equilibrium and underground leakages may affect the surrounding environment especially interaction with the water table

Question 7

How does hydroelectric power impact the water cycle?

Answer 7

When a damn is implemented the up and downstream functions of a river change as lakes form behind which reduces water downstream and may cause droughts

Question 8

How does irrigation affect the water cycle?

Answer 8

Irrigation causes leaching and run off as well as rising salt in the land and eutrophication

Question 9

How does deforestation impact the water cycle?

Answer 9

Less transpiration and so less rainfall means land dries out becomes more susceptible to erosion, run off and leaching so areas become prone to both flooding and drought

Question 10

How does the greenhouse effect impact the water cycle?

Answer 10

Increase in global temperature increases sea level rise as ice caps melt and water expands