The Carbon Cycle

Question 1

Photosynthesis (2)

Answer 1

Plants use light energy from the sun to produce glucose
This removes carbon from the atmosphere and allows vegetation to grow

Question 2

Respiration (3)

Answer 2

A chemical process that happens in all cells, which converts glucose into energy
Carbon is released back to the atmosphere but less than is absorbed for photosynthesis
Meaning that vegetation is naturally a carbon sink

Question 3

Decomposition

Answer 3

Carbon from the bodies of dead organisms is returned to the air as carbon dioxide

Question 4

Combustion

Answer 4

Carbon is burned in the presence of oxygen and converted to energy, carbon dioxide and water

Question 5

Sequestration

Answer 5

An umbrella term used to describe the long-term storage of carbon in plants, soils, rock formations and oceans

Question 6

Diffusion (2)

Answer 6

The movement of carbon between the ocean and the atmosphere
Cold water can hold more carbon so during glacials there is more diffusion into the ocean.

Question 7

Weathering

Answer 7

The breakdown of rocks in their original place at, or close to, the surface.

Question 8

Burial and compaction

Answer 8

Where organic matter becomes buried and is then compressed by the overlying sediment

Question 9

Carbon budget

Answer 9

A way of using data to describe the amount of carbon that is stored and transferred within the carbon cycle

Question 10

Carbon sink + example

Answer 10

Anything that absorbs more carbon that it releases
Example = ocean

Question 11

Carbon source

Answer 11

Anything that releases more carbon that it absorbs

Question 12

Mitigation

Answer 12

Any method used to reduce or prevent emissions of greenhouse gases

Question 13

Carbon capture and storage (CCS)

Answer 13

Atmospheric carbon dioxide is compressed into a liquid and is then pumped and stores several kilometres into the ground.

Question 14

Renewable energy

Answer 14

Energy generated from sources that can be renewed and used multiple times

Question 15

Carbon farming

Answer 15

Where one type of crop is replaced by another that has greater productivity and absorbs more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Question 16

Hydrocarbons

Answer 16

Compounds of carbon and hydrogen which are the basis of fossil fuels such as oil and gas

Question 17

Lithosere (3)

Answer 17

Vegetation succession that originates on a bare rocky surface.
Bare rock will be colonised by lichens, followed by mosses and grass.
Soil builds up allowing shrubs and trees to grow until climatic climax is reached.

Question 18

Sere

Answer 18

A complete vegetation succession

Question 19

Seral stage

Answer 19

A stage within a sere

Question 20

Vegetation succession

Answer 20

The sequence of changes that take place as plant life colonises bare rock, sand, water or salty areas

Question 21

Climatic climax (2)

Answer 21

The final stage of serial succession
Vegetation remains relatively unchanged unless destroyed by an event such as fire or human interference

Question 22

Humus (2)

Answer 22

The organic component of soil
Formed by the decomposition of leaves and other plant material by soil microorganisms.

Question 23

Milankovitch cycles (3)

Answer 23

Changes in the shape earth’s orbit and tilt that cause glacial periods and interglacial periods
It is a long-term natural cause of climate change on Earth
It can cause changes to the carbon cycle as cooler oceans absorb more carbon and colder temperatures slow vegetation growth and decomposition

Question 24

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 24

Rising global temperatures due to greenhouse gases being put into the atmosphere because of human activities

Question 25

Hydrosphere - carbon (2)

Answer 25

Dissolved in rivers, lakes and oceans
Second largest carbon store = 0.04%

Question 26

Lithosphere - carbon

Answer 26

Over 99.9% of carbon is stored in sedimentary rock
0.004% is stored in fossil fuels

Question 27

Atmosphere - carbon (2)

Answer 27

Contains 0.001%
Carbon dioxide and methane

Question 28

Biosphere - carbon

Answer 28

0.004%

Question 29

Cryosphere = carbon (2)

Answer 29

Less than 0.01%
In permafrost mostly

Question 30

What is increasing carbon in world (2)

Answer 30

Wildfires + volcanic activity

Question 31

Wildfires how (2)

Answer 31

Rapid transfer of large quantities of carbon from biomass to atmosphere
Loss of veg = less carbon removed from atmosphere

Question 32

Wildfires long term effect (2+)

Answer 32

Wildfires can encourage growth of new plants + photosynthesis
Leads to wildfires = potential to have neutral effect depending on amount + type of regrowth

Question 33

Volcanic activity what (2)

Answer 33

Carbon stored in earths magma released as co2
Recent eruptions release much less than human activity however there’s potential

Question 34

Human causes of carbon increasing in atmosphere (4)

Answer 34

Fossil fuel extraction
Deforestation
Farming
Land use change

Question 35

Fossil fuel extraction + use = increased carbon (2)

Answer 35

Extracting and burning releases co2 to atmosphere
Without humans the carbon would remain sequestered in lithosphere

Question 36

Deforestation = increased carbon (3)

Answer 36

Cleared fro agriculture, logging and developments
Clearance reduces size of store
If forest is burned = rapid flow of carbon from biosphere to atmosphere

Question 37

Farming = increased carbon in atmosphere (3)

Answer 37

Animals release co2 + methane = respiration + digestion
Ploughing releases co2 in soil
Population increase = demand for food increased = co2 being released increases

Question 38

Land use change = increased co2 (2)

Answer 38

Vegetation removed for buildings = reduced storage in biosphere
Concrete production = releases lots of co2

Question 39

What is the carbon budget

Answer 39

Difference between inputs of carbon into a subsystem and outputs from it

Question 40

How does carbon effect atmosphere (3)

Answer 40

Carbon effects amount of gases in atmosphere containing carbon
As conc of GHG increases, temp rise = global warming
Changes to climate = extreme weather events

Question 41

How does carbon effect land (4)

Answer 41

Allows plants to grow = photosynthesis
Decomposition = without it dead plants would remain + nutrients wouldn’t be recycled
Increase global temp = increase frequency of wildfires
Warmer = permafrost melts = releases carbon

Question 42

How carbon effects oceans (5+)

Answer 42

CO2 in ocean used by phytoplankton + seaweed = photosynthesis
Other marine organisms = shells + skeletons
CO2 makes oceans more acidic = neg impact on marine life
Global waste arming affects organisms sensitive to heat = phytoplankton
Warmer water absorbs less carbon