The global carbon cycle: stores Flashcards
What are the main stores of carbon?
Lithosphere (rocks and soil)
Hyrdrosphere (oceans
Cryosphere (snow and ice)
atmosphere and biosphere (plants)
Define a carbon sink.
a store that absorbs more carbon than it releases
Define a carbon source.
a store that releases more carbon than it absorbs
Give an example of a transfer in a carbon cycle.
photosynthesis- takes carbon out of the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide and converts it into carbohydrates such as glucose within plants
What is the name for the changing amount of carbon held in each store?
fluxes
Name 6 carbon stores.
marine sediments and sedimentary rocks
ocean
fossil fuel deposits
soil organic matter
atmosphere
terrestrial plants
How many billion metric tons of carbon is in marine sediments and sedimentary rock?
100,000
How many billion metric tons of carbon is in the ocean?
38,000
How many billion metric tons of carbon is in fossil fuel deposits?
4,000
How many billion metric tons of carbon is in soil organic matter?
1,500
How many billion metric tons of carbon is in the atmosphere?
750
How many billion metric tons of carbon is in terrestrial plants?
560
