The Carbon Cycle

Question 1

What are the 4 reservoirs of carbon

Answer 1

• Atmosphere
• Hydrosphere (oceans)
• Lithosphere (rocks & fossil fuels)
• Biosphere (living things and dead organic
  matter)

Question 2

What form of carbon is in the lithosphere

Answer 2

• Carbon is present in rocks such as
  carbonate rocks like limestone
• Also present in fossil fuels in the form of
  hydrocarbons

Question 3

What form of carbon is in the biosphere

Answer 3

In the form of carbohydrates, proteins and
lipids (fats) in living things and in dead
organic matter

Question 4

What form of carbon is in the atmosphere

Answer 4

Carbon dioxide - CO2
Methane - CH4

Question 5

What form of carbon is in the hydrosphere (in the oceans)

Answer 5

Dissolved carbon dioxide - CO2

Question 6

What is the process of photosynthesis

Answer 6

Plants absorb carbon dioxide & convert it into carbohydrates. This removes large amounts of carbon from atmosphere

Question 7

What is the process of respiration

Answer 7

Living things respire and release CO2 into the atmosphere

Question 8

What is the process of a food chain transfer

Answer 8

Carbon in the form of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins in plants moves to the animals that eat them. Animals that eat other animals get the carbon too.

Question 9

What is the process of fossilisation

Answer 9

• Incomplete decomposition causes dead
  organisms to decay slowly and are
  compressed and form fossil fuels

Question 10

What is the process of combustion

Answer 10

Combustion of fossil fuels releases CO2

Question 11

What is the process of decomposition

Answer 11

Organic matter decomposes releasing CO2 into the atmosphere

Question 12

What is the process of volcanic activity

Answer 12

Volcanic eruptions release CO2 into the atmosphere

Question 13

What are 5 human activities that affect the carbon cycle

Answer 13

• Combustion of fossil fuels
• Deforestation
• Afforestation
• Pollution of oceans
• Agricultural activities

Question 14

What are the consequences of combustion of fossil fuels on the carbon cycle

Answer 14

Releases the stored carbon into the atmosphere as CO2 where it becomes a greenhouse gas

Question 15

What are the consequences of deforestation on the carbon cycle

Answer 15

• Increases the amount of CO2 in the
  atmosphere
• Less plants photosynthesising and
  removing CO2

Question 16

What are the consequences of afforestation on the carbon cycle

Answer 16

Increases the movement of carbon from the atmosphere into the biosphere

Question 17

What are the consequences of pollution of oceans on the carbon cycle

Answer 17

Marine pollution reduces phytoplankton populations which reduces the amount of dissolved CO2 absorbed which increases CO2 levels in the atmosphere

Question 18

What are the consequences of agricultural activities such as cattle ranching on the carbon cycle

Answer 18

• Deforestation for cattle ranches increases
  CO2 levels in atmosphere
• Cattle releases methane which is 25x more damaging than CO2 per molecule

Question 19

What are the consequences of agricultural activities such as ploughing fields on the carbon cycle

Answer 19

• Top layer of soil full of carbon-rich
  molecules
• Ploughing disturbs this carbon-rich top
  layer which releases CO2 in atmosphere

Question 20

What are the consequences of agricultural activities such as growing rice on the carbon cycle

Answer 20

• Rice paddies produce methane
• Bacteria in the flooded rice fields produce
  lots of methane

Question 21

What are 5 examples of how the carbon cycle can be sustainably managed

Answer 21

• Protect existing carbon stores, e.g. tropical rainforest
• Reduce combustion of fossil fuels
• Carbon capture and storage (artificial carbon sequestration)
• Invest in renewable energy
• Afforestation (carbon sequestration)