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WATER AND CARBON CYCLES > The Carbon Cycle > Flashcards

The Carbon Cycle Flashcards

1
Q

What is carbon?

A

A element

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2
Q

Where is carbon found?

A

In organic stores and inorganic stores

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3
Q

How much carbon is in sedimentary rocks - lithosphere?

A

99.9%

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4
Q

How much carbon is in fossil fuels - lithosphere?

A

0.04%

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5
Q

Where does CO2 dissolve? - hydrosphere

A

Rivers, lakes and oceans

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6
Q

How much carbon is in oceans?

A

0.04%

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7
Q

What is carbon stored as in the atmosphere?

A

CO2 and CH4 - methane

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8
Q

How much carbon is in the atmosphere?

A

0.001%

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9
Q

Where is carbon stored as in the biosphere?

A

The tissues of living organisms then transferred to soil when they die and decay.

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10
Q

How much carbon is in the biosphere?

A

0.004%

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11
Q

Where is carbon stored as in the cyrosphere?

A

In the soil in areas of permafrost where decomposing animals and plants have frozen into the ground.

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12
Q

What is the carbon cycle?

A

The process by which carbon is stored and transferred

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13
Q

Is the carbon cycle a open or closed system?

A

Closed

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14
Q

What are the 4 flows between stores in the carbon cycle?

A

Photosynthesis
Respiration
Combustion
Sequestration

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15
Q

Where does photosynthesis transfer carbon to and from?

A

Atmosphere to biosphere

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16
Q

What is photosynthesis?

A

Plants use energy from the sun to change CO2 & water into glucose and oxygen.

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17
Q

What does photosynthesis enable for plants?

A

For them to grow

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18
Q

How is carbon released in photosynthesis?

A

Respiration and decomposition

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19
Q

Where does combustion transfer carbon to and from?

A

From living, dead or decomposed biomass to the atmosphere.

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20
Q

What causes carbon flow in combustion?

A

Wildfires

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21
Q

Where does carbon directly dissolve from to and to?

A

Atmosphere to the ocean.

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22
Q

Where does respiration transfer carbon to and from?

A

From living organisms to the atmosphere

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23
Q

What is respiration?

A

Plants and animals break down glucose for energy, releasing CO2 and methane in the process.

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24
Q

Where does decomposition transfer carbon to and from?

A

From dead biomass to the atmosphere and the soil.

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25
Q

What is decomposition?

A

After death, bacteria and fungi break organisms down. CO2 and methane are released.

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26
Q

How is some carbon transferred to the soil?

A

In the form of humus

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27
Q

Where does weathering transfer carbon from and to?

A

From the atmosphere to the hydrosphere and biosphere.

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28
Q

How is acid rain formed?

A

When atmospheric carbon reacts with water vapour.

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29
Q

What happens when acid rain falls onto rocks?

A

Dissolves the rock and the molecules wash into the sea.

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30
Q

What happens with the molecules in the water?

A

It reacts with CO2 to form calcium carbonate which is used by sea creatures e.g to make shells.

31
Q

What is carbon sequestration?

A

When carbon is captured and held in sedimentary rocks or as fossil fuels.

32
Q

How long does it take for carbon sequestration to happen?

A

Millions of years

33
Q

What are the 2 natural processes that can change the carbon cycle?

A

Wildfires
Volcanic Activity

34
Q

What do wildfires transfer from biomass to the atmosphere?

A

Large quantities of carbon

35
Q

Why does photosynthesis decrease due to wildfires?

A

Loss of vegetation

36
Q

How can wildfires help in the long term?

A

Can encourage the growth of new plants, which can take in carbon from the atmosphere for photosynthesis.

37
Q

How does volcanic activity affect the carbon cycle?

A

Carbon stored in magma released during volcanic eruptions

38
Q

Name 4 human impacts that affect the carbon cycle

A

Fossil fuel extraction and use
Farming practices
Land use changes
Deforestation

39
Q

What does extracting and using FF do to the atmosphere?

A

Releases CO2 and this leads to rising temperatures.

40
Q

What would of happened to the carbon if there was no human intervention?

A

It would have remained sequestration in the lithosphere for years to come.

41
Q

What is deforestation?

A

Removed of forests for agriculture, logging or urbanisation

42
Q

What does deforestation do to the carbon cycle?

A

Reduces the size of the carbon store

43
Q

What happens if the cleared forest is then burned?

A

Rapid flow of carbon from biosphere to the atmosphere

44
Q

What do animals do to the carbon cycle?

A

Release CO2 and methane when they respire and digest food

45
Q

What does ploughing do to the carbon cycle?

A

Release CO2 stored in soil

46
Q

What has mechanisation of farming done to the earth?

A

Increased CO2 emissions

47
Q

What does removal of vegetation do to the carbon cycle?

A

Reduces carbon storage in the biosphere

48
Q

What does the production of concrete do the carbon cycle?

A

Releases lots of CO2 into the atmosphere

49
Q

What is the carbon budget?

A

The balance between carbon inputs and outputs

50
Q

What does the carbon budget of a subsystem determine?

A

Whether it acts as a carbon source

51
Q

How does the carbon cycle affect the concentration of greenhouse gases?

A

Temperatures increase

52
Q

How does the carbon cycle affect plants?

A

Allows plants to grow

53
Q

If there was no decomposition, what would happen?

A

Dead plants would remain where they fell and nutrients would never be recycled

54
Q

What can changes in the carbon cycle - increased temps do to land?

A

Permafrost can melt which leads to carbon being released

55
Q

What else can increase with the increase in global temperatures?

A

Frequency of wildfires

56
Q

What is CO2 in oceans used by?

A

Organisms such as phytoplankton and seaweed during photosynthesis

57
Q

What can increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere do to the ocean?

A

Increase the acidify and have adverse effects on marine life

58
Q

How can global warming affect oceans?

A

Can lead to a decrease in certain species if temps are too high

59
Q

Outline how changes to the carbon cycle can affect the carbon cycle.
(4 marks)

A

Increased levels of CO2 can lead to a increase in acidity in oceans.
Can cause global warming and lead to a increase in temperatures.
Can lead to a decrease in species due to high temps.
Warmer water is less able to absorb CO2 decreasing the amount of CO2 that could potentially be dissolved in oceans.

60
Q

What do greenhouse gases cause?

A

A natural greenhouse effect that prevents some energy from escaping into space and reflects it back to Earth.

61
Q

What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?

A

Where additional greenhouse gases reflect more energy back to the Earth

62
Q

When carbon combines with water in the atmosphere, what does this allow?

A

Chemical weathering

63
Q

The pattern of precipitation is expected to change, what can this cause in some areas of the world?

A

Water shortages

64
Q

With extreme weather events expected to get more frequent what will happen in LIDCs?

A

They will be worst affected

65
Q

If agricultural productivity decreases, what can this lead to?

A

Food shortages

66
Q

What is the IPCC?

A

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

67
Q

What does IPCC do?

A

Share knowledge about climate change

68
Q

What will happen to coastal and low-lying areas if sea levels rise?

A

Risk of flooding

69
Q

What are 3 things humans can do individually to mitigate the impacts of climate change?

A

Use public transport more
Buy more fuel efficient cars
Make homes more energy efficient

70
Q

To mitigate climate change, what 6 things can humans do on a regional and national scale?

A
71
Q

What on a global scale can humans do to mitigate climate change?

A

Countries can work together to reduce emissions.

72
Q

What are 2 examples of attempts to mitigate climate change on a global scale?

A

Paris Agreement in 2015
Kyoto Protocol in 1997

73
Q

What is CCS?

A

Carbon Capture and Storage - CO2 emitted from burning fossil fuels captured and stored underground.

WATER AND CARBON CYCLES (6 decks)

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