topic 6; the carbon cycle and energy security ( EQ1) Flashcards
carbon store
function as sources ( adding carbon to the atmosphere) and sinks (removing carbon from the atmosphere)
carbon flux
(also known as flows or processes) are movements/transfers of carbon/water between stores; they provide motion in the carbon cycle
examples of carbon stores
coal
oil
gas
ocean surface
food web
deep ocean currents
shellfish and corals
sedimentary rocks
atmosphere
deep ocean sediments
examples of carbon fluxes
diffusion
burning
decomposition
respiration
photosynthesis
whats the carbon cycle
the cycle by which carbon moves from one earth sphere to another. its a closed system made up of interlinked subsystems which are open and have inputs and outputs
what are the 3 places where carbon is stored
- terrestrial
- atmospheric
- oceanic
atmosphere and how carbon is found
co2 and carbon compound such as methane (CH4)
hydrosphere and how carbon is found
as dissolved CO2
hydrosphere= water on our planet
liposphere and how carbon is found
as carbonates in limestone, chalk and fossil fuels, as pure carbon and diamonds.
lisosphere=rock that covers our planet
biosphere and how carbon is found
as carbon atoms and dead organisms
living animals and plants/trees
what are 3 organic carbon fluxes (terrestrial)
- photosynthesis and respiration in plants
- decomposition
- transformation into sedimentary rock
rate of flux and explanation photosynthesis and respiration in plants
the quickest cycle
-plants take carbon from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, they then release it by respiration, temp and moisture control the rate.
rate of flux and explanation decomposition
depends on climate
-warmer= faster rate, some organic material may be buried so deeply that they don’t decay at all and turn into hydrocarbons- they then release co2 when burnt
rate of flux and explanation transformation into sedimentary rock
a long period of time
due to decomposition
fluxes vary with latitude, why?
regional climates influence the rates of photosynthesis and respiration
what’s carbon sequestration
the process by which co2 is removed from the atmosphere and held in solid or liquid form, its the process which facilitates the capture and storage of carbon
whats outgassing
the release of gas previously dissolved, trapped, frozen or absorbed in some material (e.g. rock)
whats chemical weathering
the decomposition of rock minerals in their original position by agents such as water, o2, co2 and organic acids
whats the impact of volcanic eruptions?
to send extra co2 into the atmosphere, which leads to rising temps, increased evaporation and higher levels of atmospheric moisture, this increases acid rain and thus chemical weathering which slowly rebalances the cycle
lay out the mechanisms of the geological carbon cycle (6)
-Rivers transport weathered carbon and Ca sediments to the oceans where they ae deposited.
-carbon in ORGANIC MATTER FROM plants, animal shells ad skeletons SINK to the ocean bed when they DIE, building up a strata of coal, chalk and limestone.
-carbon rich rocks are sub ducted along plate boundaries and EVENTUALLY EMERGE again when VOLCANOES erupt.
-the presence of intense heating ALONG SUBDUCTION PLATE BOUNDARIES changes sedimentary rock into metamorphic rock. CO2 is released by the metamorphism of rocks rich in carbonates during this process
- TERRESTIAL carbon held within the MANTLE is released into the atmosphere as co2 when volcanoes erupt, this is outgassing
-CO2 within the atmosphere combines with RAINFALL to produce a weak acid ( carbonic acid or acid rain) that DISSOLVES carbon rich rocks, releasing bicarbonates. This is chemical weathering
- THE PROCESS REPEATS
Most of the earths carbon is geological and results from
- formation of sedimentary carbonate rocks in the ocean
- carbon taken from plants and animals in shale, coal and other rocks
whats decomposition
breaking down organic matter and releasing co2 into soils
whast combustion
biomass and fossil fuels- releasing co2 into the atmosphere
what is the bio-geochemical carbon cycle made up of and what is it?
- is where co2 is exchanged between the atmosphere and the ocean, it consists of…
-photosynthesis
-respiration
-decomposition
-combustion
what’s the second largest carbon store
ocean
what are carbon pumps
the processes operating in the oceans that circulate and store carbon
whats zooplankton
consists of microscopic organisms floating in the sea
microorganism in the oceasn
what are the two carbonate pumps in the ocean
biological pump
physical pump
what does the biological pump do in the ocean?
involves carbon being taken from the atmospshere through photosynethisis by phytoplankton THIS EFFECTIVELY CONVERTS C02 into organic matter, where it moves through the foodchain and becomes food for zooplankton and their predators, most of the co2 taken up by phytoplankton is recycled near the surface., 30% of dea carbon filled orgamism sink to the floor creating sedimentary rock- contributes to storing carbon in the sea
what does the physical pump do in the ocean?
move carbon compounds to different parts of the oceans in down-welling and up-welling currents. Down- welling occurs when cold, denser water sinks- they bring dissolved co2 to the deep ocean where it can stay for hundreds of years. upwellign invlves carbon being tsken back up into the atmosphere
what are the 4 types of biological- terrestrial ( land based) sequestering?
Trees
mangroves ( a vital store of carbon)
tundra/permafrost
rainforests
biological- terrestrial ( land based) sequestering- trees- link to carbon cycle and prediction for the future
95% of a trees biomass is leaves, branches trunk and root which is made up from co2 that sequesters and converts into cellulose. the amount of carbon stored depends on the balance between photosynthesis and respiration
- due to deforestation, carbon absorption will be decreased and carbon stored will be released.
biological- terrestrial ( land based) sequestering- mangroves link to carbon cycle and prediction for the future
sequesters almost 1.5 metric tones of carbon per hectare every year. mangrove soil consists of high amounts of humus and peat which contains HIGH AMOUNTS OF CARBON - the soils are ANAEROBIC so decomposition is slow so little carbon is respired back to the atmosphere and the stores remain intact. any plant matter trapped by tree rocks tends to stay as it decomposes slowly
-if mangroves were cleared, carbon would be released- mangroves are currently being cleared for tourism …
biological- terrestrial ( land based) sequestering- tundra/permafrost- link to carbon cycle and prediction for the future
much of the soil in the tundra region is frozen containing stores of ancient c. c is locked in an icy carbon store. and has been trapped there for many years.
-if permafrost melts stored c will release co2 and methane causing global warming
biological- terrestrial ( land based) sequestering- rainforests- link to carbon cycle and prediction for the future
-rainforests= huge c sinks. c is stored in trees, plant litter and dead wood. soils= thin and lack nutrients due to litter layers that cover them. as the litter and dead wood decay, they are recycled so quickly that a soil store does not develop- . rainforests absorb more co2 than any other terrestrial biome
-if rainforests all died off, a massive carbon sink would be lost. co2 lost= greenhouse effect=temps rise
fewer rainforests= less water pumped into atmosphere=temps rise= forest fires (positive feedback loop)
when do terrestrial primary producers sequester carbon and how is some released back
during photosynthesis- some c is released to the atmosphere during respiration by consumer organism
what can biological carbon be stored as and how is it returned to the atmosphere
stored as dead organic matter in soils or returned to the atmosphere via biological decomposition over several years
what are primary producers
greenplants that use solar enegry ti produce biomass
whats the carbonate pump in oceans
cretaes calium carbinate as their SHELLS DEVELOP
when they die, carbon rich microorganism sink to the ocean floor and remain there accumulationg as sediment
creates sedimentary rock
whats the greenhouse effect
the warming of the atmosphere as gasses such as CO2 CH4 and water vapour absorb heat energy from the earth
whats the enhanced greenhouse effect
the increase in the natural greenhouse effect said to be caused by human activities that increase the quantity of GHG’s in the atmosphere, these gasses are coming from- cattle, rice paddy fields, domestic heating, factories, vehicle engines, air travel, fossil fuels
what are the 3 global controls of climate
latitude
atmospheric circulation cells
ocean currents
what are the 2 local controls of climate
albedo
altitude
describe latitude (global) and how its a control of climate(precipitation)
incoming solar radiation from :
1. equator has a smaller distribution area so warmer.
2. there is a larger distribution at the poles thus less intensity so colder.
describe atmospheric circulation cells (global)
equator= warm air rising- low pressure weather system. wet= tropical rainforest
sinking air= high pressure= dry
warm air rising=LP= wet temperate
look in book
describe high pressure
-anticyclone
-dry conditions
-sinking air= clear skies
describe low pressure
-depression
-wet condition
-air rising= evaporation->condensation
describe ocean currents (global)
ocean currents distribute water from warm areas to cold areas. warm water from the equator is re-distributed- keeps many places warmer than they would be
describe albedo (local)
white coloured surface= high albedo ( greater reflection)
dark coloured surface=low albedo (lots of absorption)
describe altitude (local)
the higher we go above sea level, the colder it gets
whats a fossil fuel
a natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.
they are extremely important long term carbon stores
what are the 4 impacts of fossil fuel consumption
CLIMATE- global temps increase due to increased CO2 in atmosphere, extreme weather events become more frequent
BALANCE-if sources and sinks are equal, the carbon cycle is said to be in equilibrium, fossil fuel consumption alters this balance
ARTIC AMPLIFICATION - the artic region is warming twice as fast as the global average which is ARTIC AMPLIFICATION. melting permafrost releases CH4 and CO2 leading to increased global temps and further melting (positive feedback loop)
HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE- changes to temperature will lead to change in precipitation patterns, snowfall is likely to reduce
what are the possible implications on a 2 degree temperature increase
implications on climate, ecosystems and hydrological cycle.
ECOSYSTEMS- habitat changes will mean 10% of land species with limited adaptability will die of extinction.
- by 2080, shifting temps may reduce bird habitats
HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE- rivers will dry up in regions where precipitation is reduced.
- decrease in water availability
CLIMATE
-temperate and tropical zones may experience stronger storm activity due to more heat energy in the atmosphere
what is thermohaline circulation
ocean currents that cirulates warm and cold water around the worlds oceans
explain the 4 processes of the terristal carbon cycle
exchange of co2 between ocean and atmosphere
1. photosynethesis- plants remove co2
2. respiration- animals consume plants releasing co2
3. decompositon- dead palnt and animals release co2 into soil and deposist carbon on sea floor
4. combustion- burning ff releases co2.
wh
why is the gulf stream failing
- melting artic increases the amont of freshwater entering the North atlantic. –slows down/ collapese gulf stream
- oceans salinity declining, preveting cold water from sinking here
what makes soils heathy
- dark, porous crumbly
- contains organism
- sequester carbon
4.
how does the ghg effect temperature
solar rad
earths surface-albedo effect.
- snow reflects heat and dark forest absorb it
