The carbon budget

Question 1

the global carbon budget

Answer 1

vast majority of carbon is stored in earth’s crust and oceans
low amount stored in atmosphere and plants

Question 2

the carbon budget for a local tree

Answer 2

units of carbon move from one store to another

importance of the photosynthesis transfer as it is largely responsible for net loss of carbon in the atmosphere

Question 3

what is the carbon budget?

Answer 3

the finite amount of greenhouse gasses we can emit to limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees

Question 4

how many goverments have agreed that we must limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees

Answer 4

195 governments

Question 5

what is carbon measured in?

Answer 5

units called petgrams

Question 6

what are examples of greehouse gasses?

Answer 6

carbon dioxide
methane
halocarbons

Question 7

enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 7

the impact on the climate from additional climate from additional heat retained due to the increased amounts of co2 and other greenhouse gasses that humans release into the atmosphere since ind revolution

Question 8

geo- sequestrian

Answer 8

technology of capturing greenhouse gas emissions from power stations and pumping them into underground reserves

Question 9

radiative forcing

Answer 9

the difference between the incoming solar energy absorbed by the earth and energy radiated back into space

Question 10

soil organic carbon

Answer 10

organic constituents in the soil. tissues from dead plants and animals produced produced as these decompose and the soil microbial biomass

Question 11

what happens if the balance between incoming and outgoing solar energy is anything other than zero?

Answer 11

then there must be some warming going on - the amount that the earth’s energy budget is out of balance is called radiative forcing

Question 12

what are some of the impacts on the land of the changing carbon budget

Answer 12

1. carbon is responsible for the formation and development of soil carbon in the form of organic matter is essential for plant growth
2. carbon stored in grass provides fodder for animals
3. carbon forms a valuble source of energy in the form of wood and fossil fuels

Question 13

what are some of the impacts on the ocean of the changing carbon budget

Answer 13

1. carbon can be converted into calcium carbonate which is used by marine organisms to build shells

Question 14

what are some of the impacts on the atmosphere of the changing carbon budget

Answer 14

1. co2 in the atmosphere warms the earth through the greenhouse effect without this there would be no life on earth
2. increases in carbon emissions as a result of human activities have led to the enhanced greenhouse effect which threatens to have a profound impact on the earths climate
3. deforestation has a significant effect on atmosphere