Lecture #6-7 [Carbon Cycle and Climate Change]

Question 1

Source

Answer 1

parts of the environment that can release matter in a cycle in one of its forms

plants, human emissions, animals and the atmosphere

Question 2

How does carbon move through the atmosphere and biosphere

Answer 2

“The plant diet” pplants take in atmopsheric co2 and combine it with water to make carbs through photosynthesis
Plants break down carbo into corbon dioxide and water, the co2 is released through respiration
when plants die their carbon is broken down into co2 through decomposition

so carbon returns through either slash and burn techniques or combustion

Question 3

How does carbon move through the atmos and hydrosphere

Answer 3

photosynthesis and respiration happen in oceans (most of hydrosphere) ocean water can absorb carbon dioxide causing acidification which “goes flat” from ocean currents

Question 4

Carbon movement between litho and atmos

Answer 4

young fast carbon is found in plants and living things can move easily into and out of carbon cycle

old slow carbon is found in fossil fuels which will naturally enter the carbon cycle

so we dig and burn these adding too much at once

Question 5

Climate variability vs. climate change

Answer 5

climate variability looks at changes that occur within smaller timeframes and climate change consideres changes that occur over long periods of time

Question 6

what are the projected impacts of BCs climate

Answer 6

• Average annual temperature in BC may increase by 1.7 oC to 4.5 oC
from 1961-1990 temperatures.
• Average annual precipitation may increase by 4 to 17 % from 1961-
1990 levels.
• Most small glaciers in southern BC will likely disappear.
• Some of the smaller rivers in southern BC may dry up during the
summer and early fall.
• Salmon migration patterns and success in spawning are likely to
change.

Question 7

Summary of BC climate change impacts

Answer 7

• Average annual temperature warmed by 1.4 oC per century across the province.
• The northern regions of BC warmed more than the provincial average.
• Night-time temperatures increased across all of BC in all seasons.
• The night-time minimum average temperature in winter in BC increased by 3.1 oC per
century.
• Annual precipitation has been increasing across the province overall.
• Glaciers have retreated province-wide.
• Lakes and rivers become free of ice earlier in the spring.
• The bulk of river flow is occurring earlier in the year.
• Average sea level has risen along most of the BC coast.
• Sea surface temperatures have increased along the BC coast.
• Water in the Fraser River is warmer in summer.
• More heat energy is available for plant and insect growth.