The Carbon Cycle

Question 1

Name 5 transfers of carbon

Answer 1

• Volcanic eruptions
• Fossil fuel combustion
• Weathering/erosion
• Photosynthesis
• Natural climate change
• Farming practises
• Urbanisation

Question 2

How do humans impact the carbon cycle?

Answer 2

Deforestation
Land use changes- eg urbanisation
Farming practises
Hydrocarbon extraction & use

Question 3

What is the largest carbon store ?

Answer 3

Marine sediments and sedimentary rocks

Question 4

Name 5 carbon stores

Answer 4

Ocean 
Marine sediments and sedimentary rocks
Fossil fuels
Soil
Atmosphere
Terrestrial plants

Question 5

How does natural climate change impact the carbon cycle ?

Answer 5

• increased c02
• means increased temp
• means increased humidity
• leading to increased photosynthesis rate
• leading to increased plant growth and therefore more carbon in terrestrial plants

Question 6

How does deforestation effect the carbon cycle?

Answer 6

Plants hold and release co2 when they die, this is transferred from the biosphere to the atmosphere

Question 7

Give an example of a human-induced positive feedback system involving carbon.

Answer 7

• fossil fuel combustion
• increasing c02 levels leads to
• increased temp
• increased melting of ice caps
• reduces polar albedo and increased solar absorption
• increased temp ♻️

Question 8

Name three mitigation strategies against climate change.

Answer 8

Carbon capture and sequestration

Changing rural land use

Improved aviation practices

Question 9

How can improved aviation practices mitigate climate change?

Answer 9

Aviation Biofuel - burning biofuel rather than a typical combustion engine- supposed to cut air pollution of air traffic by 50-70%

Question 10

What are the dangers of carbon sequestration?

Answer 10

• build up of pressure can lead to similar effects of volcanic eruptions and if in lakes -limnics

Question 11

What is carbon sequestration?

Answer 11

involves capturing c02 from the atmosphere & putting it into long term storage.

Question 12

Give an example of how hydrocarbon extraction effects the carbon cycle.

Answer 12

Cement production- when calcium carbonate is heated-> 5% of anthropogenic emissions

Question 13

How do volcanic eruptions impact the carbon cycle?

Answer 13

• caused no detectable global warming
• as c02 released is cancelled by large amounts of sulfur dioxide released
• when converted to sulfuric acid the fine droplets in the air reflect solar energy back to space, cooling the earth

Question 14

Give an example of how farming practises impact the carbon cycle.

Answer 14

• enteric fermentation -> where large amounts of methane are released by digestion of livestock

Question 15

Give 2 examples of how land use change impacts the carbon cycle

Answer 15

• urbanisation -> transport, domestic and industrial energy consumption and cement production. These areas are increasing aswell
• deforestation -> 30% of anthropogenic emissions

Question 16

what are the two types of carbon sequestration?

Answer 16

• geologic sequestration -> capturing Co2 at its source then injecting it as a liquid underground or underwater
• biologic sequestration -> involves using plants and soil to store C

Question 17

Describe the carbon budget

Answer 17

• amount of carbon going in a system compared to going out of it

Question 18

what scales could you consider the carbon budget on?

Answer 18

• individually -> homes etc
• businesses
• nations
• globally -> the one we need to address

Question 19

How does ocean warming impact the carbon budget?

Answer 19

• due to climate change oceans temp increase
• decreasing number of phytoplankton as they grow best in cool, nutrient-rich water
• limiting the ocean’s ability as a biological carbon pump
  and carbon sink
• however, phytoplankton need c02 so could increase growth

Question 20

Give two reasons for why sea level rise is accelerating.

Answer 20

Melting of terrestrial ice-

Thermal expansion- when water heats up it expands- creating a larger volume