The Carbon Cycle Flashcards
What is the importance of the Carbon Cycle
- Used by humans for energy
- ‘building blocks of life’
- used for photosynthesis to be turned to O2 as CO2 is toxic to humans.
Consequences of disruptions to the Carbon Cycle
- Sea level rises (80cm by the end of the century)
- Forest fires become more frequent and areas losing the amazon could feel the greatest impact
- Food shortages - wheat yields have decreased by 40% in Africa
How much carbon is stored in the atmosphere?
720GT
How much carbon is stored in the Ocean (Surface and Deep Layers)
Surface - 670GT
Deep - 37,000
How much carbon is stored in the Lithosphere (Sedimentary and Kerogens)?
Sedimentary - >60.000,000GT
Kerogens - 15,000,000GT
How much carbon is stored in the Biosphere (dead and alive)?
Dead - 1,200GT
Alive - 600-1,000GT
How much carbon is stored as Fossil Fuels?
5330GT
Is the Global carbon cycle an open or closed system?
Closed - The amount of carbon on the earth doesn’t change, it only changes form.
What is an example of an open carbon system?
Forest - Trees can be cut down or die, and leave the carbon system. Any system that carbon can leave or enter is open.
What are the 3 largest global carbon stores?
1st: Lithosphere - stored as fossil fuels and in rocks, the lithosphere stores most of the carbon on Earth
2nd: Oceans - stored as dissolved carbon and calcium carbonate in the shells of marine life. Only 4% of carbon is stored near the surface
3rd: Biosphere - stored in organic molecules in living or dead plants and animals. Decaying releases CO2 to the atmosphere.
4th: Atmosphere - Stored as the gas CO2.
What are key fluxes in the carbon cycle?
- Precipitation
- Respiration
- Carbon sequestration
- Photosynthesis
- Weathering
- Decomposition
- Combustion
Explain Precipitation - CC
An increase in CO2 levels have led to a dramatic increase in the acidity of seawater and therefore rainfall.
Explain Respiration - CC
- 6 O2 + C6H12O6 —> 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + ATP
- Plants and animals absorb oxygen to provide energy which is needed for metabolism and growth.
- The volume of carbon exchanged by respiration and photosynthesis each year is 1000x higher than through the slow carbon cycle.
- Stays in balance with photosynthesis (biosphere -> atmosphere -> biosphere.)
Explain Carbon Sequestration Physical Pump - CC
Physical inorganic pump:
- CO2 enters the ocean from the atmosphere by
diffusion.
- Surface ocean currents then transport the water
and dissolved CO2 towards the poles where it
cools, becomes more dense and sinks.
- Downwelling carries dissolved carbon to the
oceans depths where individual carbon
molecules remain for centuries.
- Eventually deep ocean currents transport the
carbon to areas of upwelling causing the water to
rise and CO2 to diffuse into the atmosphere.
Explain Carbon Sequestration Biological Pump - CC
Biological pump:
- Marine organisms (phytoplankton) combine
sunlight, water and dissolve CO2 to produce
organic material.
- This causes carbon to be locked in the
sediment on the ocean floor or decomposed to
release CO2 into the ocean.
- Some crustaceans extract carbon and calcium
ions from sea water to manufacture shells and
skeletons.
- Most carbon-rich material ends up on the
seafloor undergoing lithification to form chalk or
limestone.
Explain Photosynthesis - CC
- 6 CO2 + 6H2O —> 6O2 + C6H12O6
- Using the sun’s energy to cover the light energy into chemical energy for the formation of glucose and growth in plants.
- O2 is released balancing respiration.
Explain Weathering - CC
Chemical: Carbonation - rainwater (weak carbonic acid) dissolves limestone & chalk slowly. This releases carbon from linestomes to streams or rivers or the atmospheres. This transfers 0.3 billion tonnes of carbon a year. Increased rate in colder temps.
Physical: Freeze-thaw breaks rocks down into smaller particles with no chemical change releasing carbon. Increased rate at fluctuating temps.
Biological: Chelation - rainwater mixed with dead and decaying organic matter to form humid acids which attack rock minerals.
Roots can destroy rocks. Increased rate at warmer moist temperatures.
Explain Decomposition - CC
Bacteria or fungi break down dead organic matter, extracting energy and releasing CO2 into the atmosphere.
This occurs faster in warm humid environments (places with rainforest).