movement of carbon Flashcards
what is a carbon sink?
when more carbon enters a store than leaves
what is a net carbon store?
when more carbon leaves than enters
what is a transfer?
the process in which carbon moves from one store to another
what is the geological component in the carbon cycle?
it is where it interacts with the rock cycle in the processes of weathering, burial and volcanic eruptions
where does photosynthesis move carbon to and from?
from the atmosphere into biomass
how does photosynthesis move carbon?
planats and organisms such as phytoplankton use energy from the sun to change carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen
oxygen in a byproduct that is released in to atmosphere
once plants have gained carbon through photosynthesis how is it moved again?
through decomposition and respiration
where does decomposition move carbon?
from biomass into the atmosphere and soil
how does decomposition move carbon?
decomposition is when an organism is broken down
the process is carried out by decomposers which break down tissue and cells
as the organism is broken down methane and co2 are released
what form of carbon is transferred into soil after decomposition?
humus
where does chemical weathering move carbon to?
from the atmosphere to the hydrosphere and biosphere
how does chemical weathering move carbon?
atmospheric carbon dissolves in water vapour to form a weak carbonic acid
as this reaches the ground as precipitation it reacts with minerals in rocks creating a chemical reaction that causes it to dissolve
the molecules from this reaction may be washed into the sea which then react with the carbon in the ocean to form calcium carbonate used to make marine creature shells
how can claim carbonate be transferred from biomass to the lithosphere?
through creature decomposition
what is created when carbon and water vapour mix?
carbonic acid
what is carbon sequestration?
this is when carbon is captured and put into long term storage
eg pumped underground
what are the two types of carbon sequestration?
geologic
terrestrial
what is geologic carbon sequestration?
when carbon is captured at the source and injected in liquid form into deep underground stores such as the ocean or gas reservoirs
what is terrestrial sequestration?
when plants are used in order to capture co2 and store it in set and roots and also soil
how is carbon moved from the ocean to atmosphere vice versa?
co2 is directly dissolved into the oceans
what is the vertical deep mixing of oceans?
this is when carbon is transferred into the oceans
warm water moves to colder regions where it sinks
returns to warmer regions so it starts to rise, warm water can hold less carbon so it is released back into the atmosphere
what is the biological ocean pump?
when organisms die go to bottom turn into rock and released by uplift etc
oceanic pump is?
the ample of deep vertical mixing that creates a circulation
how does combustion move carbon dioxide?
transfers carbon from living organisms or dead and vegetation into the atmosphere
burnign them e.g. wildfires
how does cement manufacture contribute to the movement of co2?
when calcium carbonate is heated its produces lime and co2
fossil fuels which provide energy for the manufacture also release co2
what % of global anthropogenic co2 do cement manufactures contribute?
5%
when fossil fuels are burned what is released?
co2 and water
why does the ploughing of soil increase movement of carbon?
when soil is ploughed it allows oxygen to mix with it
dramatically increases microbial activity resulting in organic matter being broken down much quicker
