The carbon cycle Flashcards
What is it called if there is more carbon that enters a store than leaves
net carbon sink
What is it called wehn more carbon leaves a store than enters
net carbon source
what are the five things that change the magnitude in carbon stores
weathering
photosynesis
combustion
respiration
decomposition
what is weathering and what are the two types
weathering is the breaking down or dissolving of rock in the earths surface
two types are chemical and physical
explain carbonation in terms of weathering
1.Atmospheric c02 combines with water vapour forming a weak carbonic acid that falls as rain
2.The acid rain dissloves rock (chemical weathering)
3. carbon is moved through the water cycle to the oceasn where marine organisms use carbon to build their shells
how does combustion chnage the magnitude of carbon store
burning and fires releases c02 in particular burning of biomass
how does respiration change the magnitude of stores of carbon
c02 is a by product of respiration
how does photosynesis change the magnitude of stores of carbon
plants turn carbon into organic matter via photosynesis
what are human causes of change in the carbon cycle (3)
- Farming practices
-Hydrocarbon fuel extrtation and burning
-deforestation and urban growth
natural causes of change in the carbon cycle
- wildfires
-volcanic activity
what is carbon sequestration
the transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to plants,soil,rock and oceans
positives of carbon sequestration (5)
-reduce atmospheric c02
-reduce rate of sea levels rising
-reduce global temp
-reduce extremer wetather
-keeps indiustires working
negatives of carbon sequestrtation(4)
-expensive
-smallscale
-inaacessabile for lic’s
-non-profittable
what are the two type of carbon sequestration
geological
Terrestial
what is geological sequestration
-co2 captured and liquified before being injected underground
-by the time it reaches the seabed it has entered the arths geological cycle
terrrestial sequestration
-use of plants to capture c02 from the atmosphere
Disadvantages:
-forest fires can remit stored carbon
-plantations are slow growing
-carbon is not permananently removed
what is the carbon budget
The balance between inputs and outputs within the carbon cycle. taking into account various poricesses that may affect this
effects of changing carbon budget on land
-carbon fertillisation (more plants grow due to increaded atmospheric carbon)
-global warming
-land use desicions - tr drying etc
effect of changing carbon budget on seas
-ocean acidiifcication
-ocean warming
-melting sea ice
-ocean salinity
-sea levels rise
changing carbon budget affects on the atmosphere
-enhanced greenhoue effect
how do the water and carbon cycle interlink
-carbon combines with water in the atmosphere
-water is needed for photosynesis which removes co2
-co2 in the atmosphere affets global temp therfore wetaher and may lead to less precipiatipion
carbon cycle positive feedback loop
surface temp increases
permafrost thaws
atmospheric metahne and c02 will increase
mitigiation of climate chnage (4)
-modyfying photosynesis
-changing rural land use
-improvong aviation practices
-carbon capture and sequestration
what does modyfying phtosynesis involve? give an example
sri lanka
-protection of all mangrove forests
- mangrove forests store more co2 than any other and csan be stored for hundreds of years
What does changing rural land use involve?
-avoidnace of overstocking or overgrazing of animals
-using manure or mulching to improve plant organic matter
-protection of existing forests
what does improving aviation practices involve?
-avoidnace of stacking circling or queing of air crafts
-ensure 100% of seats are occupied
-improve aerodynamics and engine efficnecy
carbon capture and sequestrtaion?
co2 serpetaed from other gases, transported by pipeline ans stored underground
how much carbon did the amazon rainforests tire in 2019
76 billion tons
Brazil is the ….th largest greenhouse gas emmiter
4th
how many degrees is temp expected to rise by 2050
2-3
what percentage of the forest is expected to be lost by 2030
27%
how much carbon is stored in the upper 5cm of the amazonian soil
4-9kg
how did brazil reach a decline in deforestation 2012
-soil and beef moratium
-protected areas
what did Bolsanaro do?
-fired enviromentsal experts
-a 52% increase in deforestaion
