Movement of carbon Flashcards

1
Q

What is the carbon cycle?

A

movement of carbon from one store to another in a continuous cycle

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2
Q

what is a net carbon sink and store?

A
sink= more carbon enters than leaves
store= more carbon leaves than enters
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3
Q

How does carbon dissolve into ocean?

A

forms carbonic acid

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4
Q

Describe Photosynthesis

A

plants absorb light energy from sun, using chlorophyll in leaves, to produce carbohydrates (glucose form)
Some glucose used in respiration, rest converted back to insoluble starch
6CO2+6H20 -> C6H1206+6O2
Phytoplankton in euphatic zone- 50%

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5
Q

Describe Respiration (in all cells)

A

plants- stored carbs used for conversion into energy (for growth and repair, movement and control of body temperature in mammals
oxygen+glucose->energy+water+CO2

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6
Q

Describe Decomposition

A

when organisms die, they are consumed by decomposers such a bacteria, fungi and earthworms- carbon from body returned to atmosphere or soil where its stored

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7
Q

Describe Weathering

A

Breakdown or decay of rocks
co2 absorbed by rainwater= carbonic acid, rocks slowly dissolve into ions, with the carbon being held in solution
transported via water cycle to oceans- carbon can build up shell of marine organisms

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8
Q

Describe burial and compaction

A

organic matter buried by sediment and compacted, may form hydrocarbons such as oil and coal
tectonic uplift can expose buried limestone- e.g. Himalayas- or subduction at destructive plate boundaries- melts rocks and seeps to surface through vents as molten rock or co2

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9
Q

Describe combustion

A

organic material contains carbon- when it burns in presence of oxygen- converted into energy, co2 and water

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10
Q

explain the oceanic carbon pump

A

water can dissolve co2(more co2=lower temperature)-> vertical deep mixing

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11
Q

Describe vertical deep mixing

A

warm water carried from tropics to polar regions, cools/denser/sinks below surface layer or to sea bed, when it warms and returns to surface, loses co2 to atmosphere-> carbon pump as replenishes surface water

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12
Q

what is a biological pump

A

The cycle of carbon being trapped in organisms and turned into sedimentary rock

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13
Q

What natural hazards impact carbon cycle?

A

forest/wild fires, volcanic eruptions

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14
Q

How wild fires influences carbon cycle?

A

forests=carbon sink but its burnt then co2 is released
critical for rejuvenation as nutrients returned and new saplings can grow
vegetation reabsorbs co2- natural balance, negative feedback loop

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15
Q

How volcanic activity influences carbon cycle?

A

emitted co2 counterbalanced by sulfur dioxide. conversion of this to sulphuric acid increases reflection of radiation from sun back into space

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16
Q

hydrocarbon extraction and burning impacts

A

cement manufacturer- co2 when calcium carbonate heated (5% of anthropogenic) burning fossil fuels releases co2

17
Q

What countries dominate co2 emissions production?

A

28% china, 14% USA, 10% EU

18
Q

How do farming practices influence carbon cycle?

A

enertic fermentation- methane belched by livestock during digestion- 39% agricultural emissions
soil ploughed- layers invert (air mixes in)- soil microbial activity increases, more soil organic matter decomposes, - carbon lost to atmosphere- tractor co2

19
Q

Deforestation and CO2 emissions

A

13 million ha cut down each year- slash and burn (subsistence farmers), logging (buil roads to access remote forest, illegal), urban sprawl, wildfires/overgrazing

20
Q

What happens when forests are cleared for agriculture?

A

above ground biomass burnt- carbon released

soils dry out if o shade from tree cover- dry out

21
Q

How urban growth impacts carbon cycle?

A

urban pop reach 60% by 2030, 49% global carbon emissions from cities by 2030
2010- 10 cities produce 10% of all carbon emssions

22
Q

What is carbon sequestration?

A

Transfer of carbon from atmosphere to plants, soils, rock formations and oceans

23
Q

Explain the human sequestration

A

geological seq.- co2 capture at source (powerplants) and injected in liquid form to store underground (depleted oil and gas reserves)- experimental

24
Q

Explain natural sequestration

A

terrestrial/biological/oceans seq.- plants capture co2 from atmosphere and store in stems/roots#soil ca absorb and store over moderate time periods- plant species more diverse

25
Q

Pros and cons of natural sequestration

A

+enriches habitats

  • lose carbon back to air if forest fire
  • slow growing- needs monitoring and managing
  • carbon never permanently removed