Session 18: The Terrestrial Carbon Cycle: Soils

Question 1

5 Parts of the terrestrial process of carbon flow

Answer 1

• Photosynthesis, plant respiration, Run off/erosion, litter, soil respiration

Question 2

What determines the amount of carbon stored above ground vs in soils?

Answer 2

Soil type, vegetation, Climate

Question 3

What is Soil

Answer 3

Minerals, Organic matter,

Question 4

Types of soil weathering

Answer 4

Physical, Chemical, Biological

Question 5

O - Soil Layer

Answer 5

Organic Matter

Question 6

A = Soil Layer

Answer 6

Horizon or Topsoil
- Dark
- Rich
- Abundant life

Question 7

B - Soil Layer

Answer 7

Horizon or Subsoil
- Light
- Low organics
- Low life

Question 8

C - Soil Layer

Answer 8

Horizon Or Parent Material
- No life
- No Organics
- Rocks

Question 9

R - Soil Layer

Answer 9

Horizon or Bedrock
- Nothing to support life

Question 10

Which part of Soil has the most Carbon?

Answer 10

The top one meter tends to have the most carbon

Question 11

Clay

Answer 11

Small particals close together. Holds water and nutrients well

Question 12

Loam

Answer 12

Mixture of Clay, Silt, Sand

Question 13

Silt

Answer 13

Water and nutrient holding capacity is high but air content is poor

Question 14

Sand

Answer 14

Large particles cause large air space and cant hold nutrients and water

Question 15

Rainforest nutrient cycle

Answer 15

Trees grow, trees shed, decaying vegetation, Nutrients enter soil, Shallow roots take up nutrients.

Question 16

Temperate Grassland:
Black Soils

Answer 16

Nutrient rich soils with deep decay branch grass roots

Question 17

Northern Wetlands:
Hydric Soils

Answer 17

Formed after flooding conditions creating anaerobic conditions. Less effective decomposition creating a net sink of GHG

Question 18

Which of the three ecosystems is the best for mitigating climate change

Answer 18

Wetlands because they hold the most Methane.

Question 19

What happens to methane wetlands when they get hotter?

Answer 19

Methane is released

Question 20

What does Deforestation cause in therms of Soil and plants

Answer 20

Loss of plant and soil carbon releasing into the environment

Question 21

Why are plants and trees more effective in terms of runoff

Answer 21

Because they stop the water and wind from increasing runoff

Question 22

Natural Ecosystem disturbances

Answer 22

• Forest fires
• Storm based vegetation emoval
• disease

Question 23

Human ecosystem disturbances

Answer 23

• Land cover change
• De and reforrestation
• agriculture
• over grazing
• invasive species
• pollution