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The Carbon Cycle - Geography > The Carbon Cycle > Flashcards

The Carbon Cycle Flashcards

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1
Q

The natural carbon cycle

A

The movement and storage of carbon between the land, ocean and the atmosphere

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2
Q

What are the three forms of carbon found in the carbon cycle

A
  • inorganic - found in rocks and bicarbonates and carbonates
  • organic - found in Kant material and living organisms
  • gaseous - found as CO2 and CH4 (methane)
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3
Q

What’s a carbon sink

A

Any stores which takes in more carbon than it emits, so an intact tropical rainforest as an example

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4
Q

What’s a carbon source

A

Any store that emits more carbon than it stores so a damaged tropical rainforest fire example

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5
Q

What are the stores of carbon

A
  • the atmosphere and co2 and methane
  • the hydrosphere as dissolved co2
  • the lithosphere as carbonates in limestone and fossil fuels like coal, gas and oil
  • the biosphere in living and dead organisms
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6
Q

What is carbon sequestration

A

Transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to other stores and can be both natural and artificial. For example a plant sequesters carbon when it photosynthesises and stores the carbon in its mass

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7
Q

Carbon stored in marine sediments and sedimentary rocks

A
  • lithosphere - long term
  • the biggest store. 66000 to 100000 million billion metric tons of carbon. The rock cycle and continental drift recycle the rock over time, but this may take thousands, if not millions of years
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8
Q

Carbon stored in oceans

A
  • hydrosphere - dynamic
  • the second biggest store contains a tiny fraction of the carbon of the largest store. 38000 billion metric tons of carbon. The carbon is constantly being utilised by marine organisms, lost as an output to the lithosphere, or grains as an input from rivers and erosion
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9
Q

Carbon stored in fossil fuel deposits

A
  • lithosphere - long term but currently dynamic
  • fossil fuel deposits used to be rarely changing of short periods of time, but humans have developed technology to exploit them rapidly, though 4000 billion metric tons of carbon remain as fossil fuels
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10
Q

Carbon stored in soil organic matter

A
  • lithosphere - mid term
  • the soil can store carbon for over a hundred years, but deforestation, agriculture and land use change are affecting thus store. 1500 billion metric tons of carbon stored
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11
Q

Carbon stored in the atmosphere

A
  • dynamic
  • human activity has caused co2 levels in The atmosphere to increase by arisen 40% since the Industrial Revolution, causing unprecedented change to the global climate. 750 billion metric tons of carbon stored
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12
Q

Carbon stored in terrestrial plants

A
  • biosphere - mid term but very dynamic
  • vulnerable to climate change and deforestation and as a result carbon storage in forests is declining annually in some areas of the world. 560billion metric tons of carbon
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13
Q

Distribution of carbon stores

A

The lithosphere is the main store of carbon, with global stores unevenly distribute. Fore example, the oceans are larger in the southern hemisphere, and storage in the biosphere mostly occurs on land. Terrestrial plant storage is focussed in the tropics and the northern hemisphere

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14
Q

Photosynthesis

A

Living organisms convert carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water from the soil, into oxygen and glucose using light energy. This is how plants sequester carbon and reduce potential impacts if climate change. The process of photosynthesis occurs when chlorophyll in the leaves of the plant react with co2, to create carbohydrate glucose

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15
Q

Respiration

A

Occurs when plants and animals convert oxygen and glucose into energy which then produces waste products of water and co2. It is therefore chemically the opposite of glucose

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16
Q

Carbon dioxide in plants (night and day)

A

During the day, plants photosynthesise more CO2 than they emit from respiration. During the night they do not do photosynthesis but they do respire, releasing more CO2 than they absorb. Overall plants absorb more CO2 than they emit, so are net carbon dioxide absorbers and net oxygen producers

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17
Q

Combustion

A

When fossil fuels and organic matter such as trees are burnt, they emit CO2 into the atmosphere, that was previously locked inside of them. This may occur when fossil fuels are burned to produce energy, or if wildfires occur

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18
Q

Decomposition

A

When living organisms die, they are broken down by decomposes which respire, returning CO2 into the atmosphere. Some organic matter is also returned to the soil where it is stored adding carbon matter to the soil

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19
Q

Diffusion

A

The oceans can absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, which has increased ocean acidity by 30% since pre-industrial times. The ocean is the biggest carbon store, but with carbon levels increasing seawater becomes more acidic which is harming aquatic life by causing coral bleaching. Many of the worlds coral reefs now under threat

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20
Q

Sedimentation

A

This can happen on land or sea. For example, when shelled marine organisms die, their shell fragments fall to the ocean floor and become compacted over time to form limestone. Organic matter from vegetation and decaying marine organisms is compacted over time, whether in land or in the sea, to form fossil fuel deposits

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21
Q

Weathering and erosion

A

Inorganic carbon is released slowly through weathering: rocks are eroded on land or broken down by carbonation weathering. Carbonation weathering occurs when CO2 in the air mixes with rainwater to create carbonic acid which aids erosion of rocks such as limestone. The carbon is moved through the water cycle and enters the oceans. Marine organisms use the carbon in the water to build their shells. Increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, may increase weathering and erosion as a result, potentially affecting the roasts of the carbon cycle

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22
Q

Metamorphosis

A

Extreme heat and pressure forms metamorphic rocks, during which some carbon is released and becomes trapped

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23
Q

Volcanic outgassing

A

There are pockets of CO2found in the earths crust. During a volcanic eruption or from a fissure in the earths crust, this CO2 can be released

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24
Q

What is the quickest cycle of carbon

A

As plants absorb carbon for photosynthesis and then they release it when they respire this can be completed in a few seconds.

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25
Q

How long does dead organic matter store carbon

A

May hold it for hundreds of years. Some organic materials may become buried so deeply they don’t decay, or are buried in conditions unfavourable it decayers. This material will become sedimentary rocks or hydrocarbons by geological processes

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26
Q

oceans the largest carbon store

A

They are 50x larger than the eat atmosphere with 93% of CO2 stored in oceanic algae, plants and coral. Lots of processes occurs simultaneously within the ocean to store these large amounts of CO2. This transfer of CO2 into the sea is called ocean sequestration

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27
Q

How is carbon stored in different layers of the ocean

A

The majority of process that take CO2 out of the atmosphere take place on the top surface layer which makes up only a small proportion of the water in the earths ocean. The carbon rich water in the surface layer is then transferred down into the lower layers of the ocean and transported around the world due ti thermohaline circulation. It is this circulation which allows such large amounts of carbon to be stored in the sea

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28
Q

What is the biological carbon pump

A

Phytoplankton are microscopic organisms that, like plants, photosynthesise. They take in carbon and turn it into toga if matter. As they are the base of the marine food web. When they get eaten, carbon is passed through the food chain. Remember that CO2 is also released back into the water as these organisms respire

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29
Q

How do some organisms like plankton sequester CO2

A

Turn carbon into their hard outer shells and inner skeletons. When these organisms die, some of there shells dissolve into the ocean water meaning the carbon becomes part of the deep ocean currents. Any dead organisms which sink to the sea floor become buried and compresses, eventually forming limestone sediments. Over a long time period these can turn into fossil fuels

30
Q

How does ocean circulation help carbon storage

A

Ocean circulation provides a constant source of new water on the surface while transferring water into the deep ocean. It is this process which enables the ocean to store so much carbon. Water is not stored evenly within the water; the colder the water, the more CO2 is absorbed so the concentration of CO2 in the ocean is different around the world

31
Q

How is the concentration of CO2 in the ocean different around the world

A
  • CO2 concentration is 10% higher in the deep ocean compares to the surface of the ocean
  • polar regions fold more carbon than tropical regions
  • warm tropical waters release CO2 to the atmosphere but cold high latitude oceans absorb in CO2 from the atmopshere
32
Q

Thermohaline circulation

A

An ocean current that provides both vertical and horizontal circulation of cold and warm water around the worlds oceans. In addition to this, the atmospheric circulation creates a Kroger currents in the oceans which transfers water from the warmer tropical areas of the world to colder polar regions

33
Q

What is the speed of thermohaline circulation

A

Rate if circulation is slow; it takes around 1000 years for any cubic metre or water to travel around the entire system. Warm surface waters are depleted if CI2 and nutrients therefore the foundation of the planets food chain depends on cool and nutrient rich water which supports algae to grow

34
Q

What is the process of thermohaline circulation

A

1) the main current begin in polar oceans where the water is very cold, surrounding seawater sinks due to a high density
2) the current is recharges as it passes Antarctica by extra cold, salty, dense water
3) division if the main current; northward into the Indian Ocean and into the western pacific
two beaches warm and rise as they travel northward and then loop back southward and westward
5) the now warmed surface waters continue circulating around the globe. On their eventual return to the North Atlantic they cool and the cycle begins again

35
Q

What the dies the rate of absorption of CO2 into the ocean depend on

A

Ocean temperatures. The colder the water, the more CO2 is absorbed. Therefore, as ocean temperatures increase, the oceans will absorb less CO2. This would accelerate clime change and lead to further ocean warming

36
Q

Terrestrial sequestering

A
  • primary producers take carbon from the atmosphere to photosynthesise and release carbon when they respire
  • vegetation growth depends in water, nutrients and sunlight
  • when consumers eat plants, carbon form the plants is converted into fats and proteins
  • microorganisms feed in waste materials from animals and plants
  • animal and plant remains are easier to decompose compared to wood. Decomposition is faster in tropical climates with high rainfall, temperatures and oxygen levels
  • 95% of a trees biomass consists of CO2 which is sequestered and converted to cellulose. The amount of carbon stored in trees depends on the balance of respiration and photosynthesis
37
Q

Carbon fluxes due to terrestrial organisms vary

A
  • diurnally - during the day, fluxes are positive from the atmosphere to the ecosystem where as in the night, fluxes are negative from the atmosphere to the ecosystem
  • seasonally - in the northern hemisphere during winter, plants due and decay leading to high atmospheric CO2 concentrations but during spring when plants begin to grow, CO2 levels in the atmosphere begin the droop
38
Q

How are the amount of forests changing around the world

A

Forests are declining in tropical areas in the southern hemisphere and growing in the northern hemisphere. This is supported by data that shows that tropical areas such as Brazil and Indonesia have seen a decrease in carbon stock of around 5 gigaton of carbon in the last 25 years, but Russia, USA and china have seen an increase of around 0.3, 2.9, and 2.3 GtC respectively.

39
Q

What does detailed information of forests and climate show

A
  • non tropical forests have seen an increase in carbon sequestration in recent years. Especially in Europe and Eastern Asia, due to conversion of agricultural land and plantations in new forests
  • forests in industrialised region as are expected to increase by 2050 but in the global south, forested areas will decrease
  • rate if forest loss has decreases from 9.5 million hectares per year in the 1990s to 5.5 million hectares per year in 2010-15
  • the eight countries with the largest forested area are: Russia, Brazil, china, Canada, USA, DRC, Australia and Indonesia
  • Brazil has the most carbon stored on land and the most extensive deforested area
  • china has the larger amount of afforested area
  • net primary productivity refers the the amount of carbon absorbed by forests for tropical forests it is positive all year round, but deciduous forests, have a negative NPP in winter, but across the whole year their NPP is positive
40
Q

How much carbon do soils store

A

20-30% of the worlds carbon

41
Q

How does soil type influence the amount of carbon stored in soils

A

In arid and semi arid soils are the most important store. Any loss by a plant to the ground means that some carbon will transfer to the soil. Soil microbes break down plants releasing carbon to the atmosphere. After organisms die, thousands of compounds in soil are decomposed

42
Q

What forms in soil that contains the sit amount of carbon

A

Humus: dark and rich colour and 60% of it stores carbon

43
Q

What factors can influence the amount of carbon stored in soils

A
  • climate - this affects the rate if plant growth and microbial activity. Decomposition occurs at a fast rate in places with higher temperatures and rainfall
  • soil type - clay rich soils contain more carbon than sandy soils
  • use of soils - land use, cultivation and disturbance can affect how much carbon can be held
44
Q

The natural greenhouse effect

A
  • around 31% of carbon is reflected by clouds and gases in the atmosphere
  • the reminding 69% is absorbed by the earths surface and oceans
  • 69% of surface absorption is deracinated to space and long wave radiation
  • a large proportion of long wave radiation is radiated back to the earth by clouds and greenhouse gases
45
Q

How were carbon levels before the Industrial Revolution

A
  • the slow carbon cycle, volcanism, sedimentation have been fairly constant over the last few centuries
  • natural exchanges between the slow and fast sections of the carbon cycle were relatively small
  • there were small variations in atmospheric CO2 up until the late 19th century
46
Q

The enhanced greenhouse affect

A

Since the 1750s (when industrialisation began in the UK), global concentrations of greenhouse gases like CO2 and CH4 have increased by more than 25%. Since the 1980s, 75% if carbon emissions have come from burning fossil fuels

47
Q

How has land use change increase carbon emissions

A

Accounts for a tenth of carbon released annually and impacts of short term stored in the carbon cycle, such as the soil and atmosphere. For example
- farming practices - in the Amazon, around 70% of deforestation is for cattle ranching. Cattle produce significant amounts if methane, further contributing to global warming. Scientists are considering whether feeding cows different foods would help reduce their methane emissions

48
Q

How have fertilisers increased carbon emission

A

A significant source if greenhouse gases as well as rice padi fields, from which methane emissions have increased as a result of increased productivity due to higher CO2 levels. More sustainable grains and seeds like quinoa are being considered as substitutes, which require less water to grow

49
Q

How has deforestation increased carbon emissions

A

Deforestation account for 20% of all global greenhouse emissions. The main impact is when the cycle is interrupted and the land is used for other purposes, which then reduces carbon sequestration and land becomes a carbon source rather than a carbon sink

50
Q

How does urbanisation increase carbon emissions

A

This is the process of replacing countryside with buildings and other infrastructure. It affects the local and global carbon cycles, by replacing vegetation and covering soils. Urban areas occupy 2% of the worlds land mass, but these areas account for 97% of all human caused global CO2 emissions. Cement is an important building material, but releases carbon dioxide during production, contributing 7% to global carbon dioxide emissions each year, so sustainable options for recycling concrete are being developed

51
Q

How does combustion of fossil fuels increase carbon emissions

A

Results in CO2, sulphur and particulates being released into the atmosphere. If combustion occurs in a hit engine, NO2 will a,so be released as nitrogen from the air fuses with oxygen
- the amount of carbon is measured in Gt or Pt(petagrams). Is is estimated that burning fossil fuels has added more than 180Gt of carbon into the atmosphere

52
Q

How is temperature affected by the enhanced greenhouse effect

A

The amount of solar energy reaching the earth varies if location, and is the main factor in determining climate temperatures. Solar intensity is more intense at the equator, and reduces as you travel towards the pole.
The albedo effect will also determine the temperature of a location. Snow reflects solar radiation whereas dark forests absorb the most solar radiatiom

53
Q

How is climate impacted by the enhanced greenhouse effect

A
  • in Europe, average temperatures are expected to increase more than the global average
  • the largest increases are expected in eastern and Northern Europe during winter and souther Europe during summer
  • annual precipitation is expected to increase in Northern Europe but decrease in souther Europe
  • extreme weather events are likely to increase in both frequency and intensity
54
Q

How does solar radiation impact precipitation

A

Solar radiation is the most intense along the equator, so convectional rainfall in common and rainfall in generally very high.
Where convectional rainfall is likely to occur can be understood using the ITCZ model
Where air submerged sand cools, water vapour condenses to form clouds and precipitation. Where air rises, the air heats up and moisture will evaporate. This creates dry weather conditions

55
Q

How are ecosystems affected by the enhanced greenhouse effect

A

Global warming could impact the functioning of ecosystems. The two biomes most at risk are the arctic and coral ecosystems
Species with low populations are already at High risk. These is already evidence showing that there will be a change in species population size, timing of reproductive and migration
Marine organisms are also at risk. They are threatened with low oxygen levels and high rates of acidification.

56
Q

How are arctic ecosystems impacted by global warming

A

The arctic region is warming twice as fats as the global average. Melting permafrost releases methane and carbon dioxide which increases the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This could lead to further global warming and even more melting of snow and ice, establishing a positive feedback loop

57
Q

How have arctic ecosystems changed due to global warming

A

The arctic tundra ecosystem has changed significantly; rapid warming has contributed to extensive melting of snow and ice during the summer months. Shrubs and trees which previously couldn’t live in the arctic have began to grow. In Alaska, the red fox has now spread northward and competes with the arctic fox for food and territory

58
Q

Impact of global warming in the hydrological cycle

A
  • increased rate of evaporation could lead to more moisture being held in the atmosphere rather than in the ocean
  • increase in surface permafrost temperatures
  • less sea ice and glacier storage
  • change in capacity of terrestrial ecosystems
  • change in river discharge - increased risk of flooding in winter and droughts in summer
59
Q

Maximum energy security

A

Uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price

60
Q

Long term energy security

A

Deals with timely investments to supply in energy sources that will match economic developments and environmental needs

61
Q

Short term energy security

A

The ability of the energy system to react promptly to sudden change in the balance between energy demand and energy supply

62
Q

Energy security key points

A

-it is generally evaluated at national level, countries are either energy secure or insecure
- there are four aspects of supply: availability, accessibility, affordability and reliability
- it requires an accurate prediction of future energy
- those countries that are most energy secure are those who can meet their energy demand using supply from within their boundary

63
Q

Good quality energy supply

A

Consistent and secure and can be relied upon year round. There is unlikely to be any geopolitical problems and there is little risk from changing climatic conditions or natural hazards. A good quality energy supply involves different sources which contribute to the energy mix

64
Q

Energy security is important for the use of:

A
  • most modes of transportation
  • lights in towns and homes
  • heating homes
  • domestic appliances
  • necessary for most forms of manufacturing
65
Q

Measuring energy usage

A

Energy consumption is usually measured per capita using the filling measures
- equivalent kgs of oil per year
- gigajoules per year
- megawatt hours per day

66
Q

Energy intensity

A

Alternative measure of how efficient a country is using its energy in units of energy used per unit of GDP. a high energy intensity indicates a high price of cost of converting energy into GDP. It is generally recognised that energy intensity decreased with development; energy is used more efficiently so the cost per unit of GDP reduces

67
Q

The energy mix

A

The range and proportion of energy produced by methods of production
- non renewable fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal
- recyclable fuels like nuclear energy and general waste
- renewable energy like wind, solar and geothermal
The global energy mix is dominated by fossil fuels. Primary energy sources produce energy by using s raw material, whereas secondary sources are modified primary energy sources which are easier to use e.g. oil into petroleum and coal into electricity

68
Q

Coal as a primary energy source

A

Accounts of 27% of global energy production. Usage is decreasing as china shifts it’s energy mix away from coal and less polluting energy sources are used. Most production occurring in china, ahead of the USA and india

69
Q

Petroleum (oil) and a primary energy source

A

Accounts for 32% of global energy production. Usage is still increasing as global energy demand increases. Most usage in USA, china and India and greatest production in the USA, Saudi Arabia and russia

70
Q

Natural gas as a primary energy source

A

With only 50% of the carbon emissions of coal and accounts for 22% of global energy production, which is increasing year in year. Highest production in the USA, Russia and Iran and greatest consumption in USA, Russia and china

71
Q

Uranium and a primary energy source

A

Has a very low carbon footprint that accounts for around 4% of global energy production, with most production in Kazakhstan and greatest amount of nuclear fission energy produced in the USA. Production likely to increase in the future

72
Q

Biomass as primary energy source

A

In many LICs biomass is burned to produce energy. Burning organic matter such as wood is very inefficient. However biomass produces a large proportion of energy in LICs, though us makes up a low proportion of worldwide energy consumption. In HIC countries, biomass is being used more efficiently to produce energy, such as in biodiesel. Overall decrease in use in a global scale

The Carbon Cycle - Geography (1 decks)

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