Key definitions Flashcards
What is carbon?
Carbon is one of the most important elements and is needed by all plants and animals to survive. Most commonly in the form of CO2.
What is the biosphere store?
Any carbon stored within living matter or biomass e.g. plants and animals.
What is the lithosphere store?
Any carbon stored within or on the land e.g. soil.
What is the atmosphere store?
Any carbon stored within the atmosphere.
What is the hydrosphere store?
Any carbon stored within the oceans and lakes
What is a carbon store?
This is anywhere within the carbon cycle where carbon is stored or kept for a period of time.
What is a carbon sink?
This is a carbon store which absorbs more carbon than it gives out.
What is a carbon source?
This is a carbon store which releases more carbon then it absorbs.
What is a carbon flow?
Is a movement of carbon from one store to another.
What are processes?
Changes which drive movement in the carbon cycle.
Include natural processes such as photosynthesis as well as human processes such as deforestation.
What is ocean acidification?
When CO2 is absorbed within the ocean and reacts with seawater to produce carbonic acid meaning that the oceans is gradually becoming more acidic.
Since 1750 the PH of the ocean has dropped by 0.1, 30% change in acidity.
What is ocean warming?
When the temperature of the oceans rise this occurs as the excess heat from greenhouse effect is absorbed by the ocean.
What is melting sea ice?
When large ice formations begin to melt due to the increasing temperatures as well as increased seasonal melting due to later winters and earlier springs.
What is sea level rise?
Average global sea level has been rising, with an 18cm rise from 1897 to 1997. Mostly due to anthropogenic global warming which drives thermal expansion and melting ice.
What is positive feedback?
Where the effects of an action are amplified by changes to the inputs, outputs and processes.
