topic 1.a - carbon

Question 1

Is the global carbon system an open or closed one?

Answer 1

Closed

Question 2

biosphere

Answer 2

all living matter

Question 3

lithosphere

Answer 3

the crust and upper mantel - ridid outerlayer of the earth

Question 4

Anthropogenic CO2

Answer 4

Co2 generated by humans

Question 5

Carbon sink

Answer 5

A store of carbon that absorbs more carbon than it releases into the atmosphere.

Question 6

Carbon sequestration

Answer 6

Is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric CO2. One method of reducing the amount of CO2 with a goal of reducing global climate change.

Question 7

Importance of carbon

Answer 7

• Photosynthesis
• Respiration
• Carbon in a lot of what we eat - carbohydrates, proteins ,lipids
• Building blocks of life
• Fossil fuels
• Life on earth is ‘carbon based’ because it is the main structural element in biomolecules- 18.5% of human body mass

Question 8

Why is carbon so important for life on earth?

Answer 8

Carbon is an element with a simple atomic structure that means it has the ability to bond with other atoms to create complex molecules that base all living matter.

Question 9

stores of carbon in order of size (7)

Answer 9

• sedimentary rocks 60k - 100 million gigatons
• Oceans - different part oceans store different amounts (deep oceans store more)
• Carbonate rocks
• Fossil fuels
• Soil and peat
• Atmosphere
• Plants (560gt)

Question 10

marine and sedimentary rocks

Answer 10

• Largest store
• Long term store
• Takes millions of years to form

Question 11

Ocean

Answer 11

• CO2 absorbed directly from the air and river water discharge carried in carbon solution
• Since industrial revolution - oceans absorb more Co2 due to more emissions

different part oceans store different amounts (deep oceans store more)

Question 12

Fossil fuel deposits

Answer 12

• Hydrocarbons (coal,oil,gas) important long term stores
• Since industrial revolution they have been exploited for heat and power
• Combustion has pumped large CO2 into atmosphere

Question 13

Soil organic matter

Answer 13

• Contain rotting organic matter - important stores
• Carbon can remain in soils for 100s years
• Deforestation - land use change and soil erosion can can release the stored carbon rapidly

Question 14

Atmosphere

Answer 14

• Carbon held in the atmosphere in form of CO2
• In recent decades increased due to emissions from power stations and deforestations
• Enhanced greenhouse effect and climate change

Question 15

terrestrial plants

Answer 15

• Plants convert energy from sun to carbohydrates to support life
• Store carbon for many years then transfer it to the soil
• Through deforestation can be released by to atmosphere immediately

Question 16

What does residence time refer to ?

Answer 16

Amount of time carbon stays in one store for

Question 17

how are humans impacting residence times?

Answer 17

Humans are taking carbons out of stores with long residence times → unbalancing the carbon cycle/ disrupting to long carbon cycle :

• Burning coal , oil and gas
• Draining peatland and wetlands
• Making cement from limestone

Question 18

residence time in atmosphere

Answer 18

6 years

Question 19

residence time in deep ocean

Answer 19

1250 years

Question 20

residence times in sedimentary rocks

Answer 20

250-300 mil years