Transfers In The Carbon Cycle Flashcards
how does photosynthesis affect the carbon cycle on a local scale
Living organisms convert CO2 from the atmosphere and water from the soil into oxygen and glucose using light energy
By reducing CO2 from the atmosphere, plants are sequestering carbon and reducing the potential impacts of C02
How does respiration affect the carbon cycle on a local scale
Respiration occurs when plants and animals convert glucose into energy which then produces the waste product of water and CO2
During the day, plants photosynthesise- absorbing more C02 than they emit during respiration
At night- they don’t photosynthesis but they do respire, releasing more C02
How does combustion affect the carbon cycle on a local scale
when fossil fuels and organic matter such as trees are burnt, they emit CO2 into the atmosphere that was previously locked inside of them
This may occur when fossil fuels are burnt to produce energy or when wildfires occur
How does decomposition affect the carbon cycle on a local scale
When living organisms die, they are broken down into decomposers (such as bacteria and detritivores) which respire, returning C02 into the atmosphere. Some organic matter is also returned to the soil where it is stored adding carbon matter to the soil
How does diffusion affect the carbon cycle on a local scale
The oceans can absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, which has increased ocean acidity by 30% since pre-industrial times
- The ocean is the biggest store of carbon, but with carbon levels increasing seawater becomes more acidic which is harming aquatic life by causing coral bleaching- coral reefs are under threat
How does weathering and erosion affect the carbon cycle on a local scale
-Rocks are eroded on land or broken by carbonation weathering- which occurs when CO2 in the air mixes with rainwater to create carbonic acid which aids the erosion of rocks such as limestone
- The carbon is moved through the water cycle and enters the oceans
- Increasing carbon level in the atmosphere may increase weathering and erosion as a result, potentially affecting other parts of the carbon cycle
How do burial and compaction affect the carbon cycle at a local level
When shelled marine organisms die, their shell fragments fall to the ocean floor and become compacted over time to form limestone.
- Organic matter from vegetation and decaying marine organisms is compacted over time, whether on land or in the sea, to form fossil fuel deposits
How does carbon sequestration affect the carbon cycle on a local scale
A plant sequesters carbon when it photosynthesises and stores the carbon in its mass. Factories are also starting to use carbon sequestration in the form of Carbon Capture and Storage (ccs)
- C02 is captured and transported via pipeline to depleted gas fields and saline aquifers
What are the transfers in the carbon cycle on a local scale
Photosynthesis, respiration, combustion, decomposition, diffusion, weathering and erosion, burial and compaction and carbon sequestration
