Natural Factors Leading to a Change - Volcanic Activity

Question 1

What is magma and what is it made up off?

Answer 1

Molten rock found under Earth’s surface.

Made up of 4 different parts including gases, water vapour, co2 and sulphur dioxide.

Question 2

What factors drive a volcanic eruption?

Answer 2

Amount of gas - released into atmosphere.
Temp.
Viscosity of magma.

Question 3

How to volcanoes still emit co2 without erupting?

Answer 3

Soil.
Volcanic vent.
Fumaroles.

Question 4

Why has volcanic activity contributed so little?

Answer 4

• Sulphur dioxide converted into sulphuric acid which reflects radiation from sun back into space cooling Earth’s lower atmosphere.
• They produce less than 1% of carbon dixoide.

Question 5

How have past events suggested co2 released from volcanic events has impacted the atmosphere?

Answer 5

Intense co2 release in deep geologic past did cause co2 levels to increase in atmosphere.
Rise in temp.
Mass extinctions.

Question 6

How does volcanic eruptions change the carbon store?

Answer 6

As it returns carbon which has been trapped in lithosphere for millions of years back to atmosphere.
example of fast cycling.

Question 7

What were volcanoes like back in the Paleozoic era?

Answer 7

Much more active meaning more co2 emitted into atmosphere.

It remained in atmosphere for very long time.

Question 8

How much co2 do volcanoes emit a year? (tonnes)

Answer 8

130 -180.

Humans release 30 billion tonnes a year - fossil fuels.

Question 9

Apart from co2 what else who volcanoes erupt and how does this affect carbon cycle?

Answer 9

Lave.
Contains silicates.
Converts co2 in air into carbonates in solution.
Co2 absorbed slowly from atmosphere - slow cycling.