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GEO1020 > The carbon cycle > Flashcards

The carbon cycle Flashcards

1
Q

What type of cycle is the carbon cycle?

A

It is biogeochemical

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2
Q

Where is most of the carbon stored?

A

In rocks

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3
Q

What are the other stores of carbon?

A

Ocean, atmosphere, biosphere and lithosphere

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4
Q

What is the carbon cycle?

A

It is the movement of carbon between stores

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5
Q

How is the carbon cycle closed?

A

It is in balance over long time scales

There are sources and sinks of carbon

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6
Q

What are the two components that the carbon cycle can be divided into?

A

Geological

Biological

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7
Q

What is the geological component?

A

A long time scale of millions of years

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8
Q

What is the biological time scale?

A

Shorter such as days to thousands of years

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9
Q

What is the slow component of the carbon cycle like?

A

Carbon moves between the rocks, soil, ocean and atmosphere

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10
Q

How is carbon moved in the long term cycle?

A

Through chemical recations and tectonic activity

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11
Q

How many grams of carbon are passed through the slow carbon cycle every year?

A

10^13 to 10^14 grams

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12
Q

How many grams of carbon pass through the fast carbon cycle each year?

A

10^16 to 10^17

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13
Q

How many extra grams of carbon into the atmosphere do humans add each year?

A

10^15

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14
Q

In which gases does carbon feature in the atmosphere?

A

CH4

CO2

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15
Q

How do CO2 and CH4 act in the atmosphere?

A

They absorb and retain heat in the atmosphere

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16
Q

What is the fast carbon cycle mostly movement through?

A

The biosphere

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17
Q

Why does carbon play an essential role in biology?

A

It is able to chemically bond and is in living cells

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18
Q

What do chains of carbon bonds contain and how is this released?

A

They contain lots of energy which is released when the chains are broken. This acts as a source of fuel for all living things

19
Q

What are short term carbon cycle changes dictated by?

A

Photosynthesis and respiration of plants and phytoplankton

20
Q

What is the difference in the amount of carbon moving in the geological and biological timescales?

A

Amount of C moving between the atmosphere and biosphere each year is 1000x greater than the amount of C through the geological cycle

21
Q

How is CO2 removed from the atmosphere?

A

Through photosynthesis by plants and plankton

22
Q

What is the photosynthesis equation?

A

CO2 + H2O + energy = CH2O + O2

23
Q

How is CO2 returned to the atmosphere?

A

By respiration through plants and soil

24
Q

What is the respiration equation?

A

CH2O + O2 = CO2 + H2O + energy

25
Q

What changes can photosynthesis and respiration cause?

A

Diurnal and seasonal changes

26
Q

What happens during the day in growing season?

A

Leaves absorb sunlight and take up CO2 from the atmosphere whilst organisms consume the carbon in organic matter and return CO2 to the atmosphere

27
Q

What happens at night?

A

Photosynthesis stops but respiration continues

28
Q

What happens in winter in the Northern Hemisphere?

A

Photosynthesis ceases when many plants lose leaves but respiration increases leading to an increase in CO2

29
Q

What happens in spring in the Northern Hemisphere?

A

Photosynthesis resumes and atmospheric CO2 concentrations are reduced

30
Q

What is the rate of carbon accumulation in peat dictated by?

A

The balance between productivity and decay

31
Q

How does temperature influence productivity?

A

Warmer temperatures increase productivity

32
Q

How does temperature influence decay?

A

Warmer temperatures increase the rate of decay

33
Q

How does moisture affect decomposition and decay?

A

Wet= limited decompostion

Too dry = limited accumulation

34
Q

What is an issue with the peat carbon sink?

A

There are two competing processes and responses:

Projected warming is likely to cause substantial increases in decomposition, nutrient release and primary production

35
Q

What are the projections for the present-day global sink?

A

The present day global sink will increase slightly until around AD2100 and then decline

36
Q

How is carbon moved from the atmosphere to the land and ocean surface?

A

By dissolving into water bodies

37
Q

How is carbon moved from the atmosphere to the lithosphere and ocean?

A

Through rain

38
Q

What acid is formed when carbon combines with water?

A

Carbonic acid

39
Q

What is released when carbonic acid dissolves rocks?

A

Calcium ions

40
Q

What is one of the most important forms of carbon sequestration?

A

Oceaanic absorption of CO2

41
Q

What occurs at the ocean surface?

A

Two way carbon exchange

42
Q

What does photosynthesis within oceans allow?

A

For carbon to be passed through the food chain

43
Q

Where can carbon be stored for centuries?

A

At ocean depths

GEO1020 (16 decks)

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