Ocean Carbon Cycle

Question 1

What percentage of the carbon cycle is taken up by the oceans?

Answer 1

25%

Question 2

What is strange about the relationship between fossil fuel produced carbon and atmospheric carbon? What is thought to be the reason?

Answer 2

They do not correlate, because of terrestrial and carbon cycles absorbing most of it

Question 3

Why does CO2 dissolve differently in seawater compared to normal water?

Answer 3

Changes in the number of protons in the oceans alters their PH to be different from normal water and lead to different chemical reactions

Question 4

What are the three solutions carbon can be stored within in the oceans, in order of the transformation?

Answer 4

H2CO3 (Carbonic Acid)
HCO3 (Bicarbonate)
CO3 (Carbonate)

Question 5

What is the only solution of carbon within the oceans that can interact with the atmosphere?

Answer 5

H2CO3 (Carbonic Acid)

Question 6

How does the ocean carbon cycle function?

Answer 6

As atmospheric CO2 increases oceans absorb it and immediately convert it in to HCO3 then CO3. This allows oceans to continue absorbing more carbon in the H2CO3 solution.

Question 7

What is the threat to the ocean carbon cycle?

Answer 7

As carbon is absorbed in to the oceans it changes its PH which means carbon is not converted in to HCO3 and CO3 where it cannot interact with the atmosphere, instead more is in the H2CO3 state which means there is less of that solution to absorb atmospheric CO2. More CO2, complicatedly, the more it stays as CO2 and the greater the concentration. This reduces its ability as a carbon sink

Question 8

How does oceanic circulation further assist the ocean carbon cycle?

Answer 8

It transports parts of the ocean containing lots of carbon to greater depths and replaces them with other parts that have little amounts. This means there is a constant replenishment of absorbing ready sea water.

Question 9

What is the possible problem to ocean replenishment? but…

Answer 9

Eventually there will be not any fresh ocean ready to absorb CO2. However, there is loads of ocean it will be a long time.

Question 10

What are a very good indicator of how carbon is transported around the oceans?

Answer 10

Chlorofluorocarbons - we can analyse them as they are transported in the oceans

Question 11

What pattern does ocean carbon distribution follow?

Answer 11

Ocean Gyre Circulation

Question 12

What is the typical penetration depth and location of pacific ocean carbon?

Answer 12

Mostly in the southern hemisphere to depths of 1km

Question 13

What is the typical penetration depth and location of Atlantic ocean carbon?

Answer 13

Strongest concentration, particularly in the North near Greenland where it can reach depths of around 3km

Question 14

What is the typical penetration depth of Indian Ocean carbon? what is strange?

Answer 14

Around 1km but there appears to be an opportunity for it to reach much further in to the depths of the ocean outside of the ocean gyre patterns

Question 15

How long will it be before ocean CO2 concentration will reach a point that it will inhibit its ability to absorb more?

Answer 15

Thousands of years

Question 16

How does phytoplankton directly affect the carbon cycle?

Answer 16

Phytoplankton absorb atmospheric CO2 at the ocean surface they then travel to greater depths either alive or dead thereby taking and preserving the CO2 from interacting with the atmosphere.

Question 17

How do phytoplankton within ecosystems affect the ocean carbon cycle?

Answer 17

They form part of the ecosystem which then means the carbon is contained within all animals within that ecosystem. The top predator then may travel down in to the ocean or decompose in to the ocean bed or even be consumed by vulture-like fish

Question 18

How do types of plankton with ocean circulation affect the ocean carbon cycle?

Answer 18

They are transported across oceans via the ocean gyres and other currents which prevents their interaction and promotes distribution

Question 19

What are the determinants of phytoplankton dispersion?

Answer 19

Access to the light, so usually near the surface, but also access to nutrients and minerals such as iron, which are abundant in areas of volcanic activity such as Hawaii, so may be found here also. Also chlorophyll so they are also abundant in areas where concentrations of this are also high

Question 20

Which study found a high concentration and growth rate of phytoplankton underneath the eyjafjallajokul ash cloud following its eruption in 2010?

Answer 20

Achterberg et al. 2013

Question 21

How do the determinants of phytoplankton location affect the ocean carbon cycle?

Answer 21

In the right/wrong place at the right/wrong time to absorb large concentrations of atmospheric CO2, be involved in ecosystems, or be transported in oceanic gyres and currents.

Question 22

How is the total concentration of ocean carbon calculated?

Answer 22

the sum of carbon in all three solutions