Unit 2 Lesson 4: Storage of Carbon Flashcards
storage areas of carbon are called
carbon sinks or reservoirs
reservoir
reservoir – an area that stores carbon
carbon sink
an area where carbon is stored
The carbon cycle involves the movement of carbon between four main reservoirs:
- atmosphere
- ocean
- sediments
- terrestrial biosphere
What does the terrestrial biosphere include
The terrestrial biosphere includes organisms on land and in freshwater systems, as well as organic matter found in soil.
What do sediments include
Sediments include all fossil fuels found in the ground.
The ocean is one of the largest reservoirs of carbon why is that
The ocean is one of the largest reservoirs of carbon because of its vast coverage of the planet and the fact that it is in direct contact with the atmosphere.
Why is carbon exhange in the ocean limited
However, water in extremely deep areas of the ocean lacks atmospheric contact, so carbon exchange at this depth is limited.
Any movement of carbon between the reservoirs is called a
flux
What is exmaple of a flux
For example, the smaller cycle of carbon between photosynthesis and carbon stored in soils continually flux between the biosphere and the atmosphere.
The amount of carbon is measured in units called
The amount of carbon is measured in units called gigatons of carbon (GtC).
Is there a lot or a little bit of carbon in living thing?
Only a small amount of carbon is stored in living things.
Where is most of the carbon found in plant biomass?
. Most of the carbon found in plant biomass is found in trees.
biomass
the total amount of living material in a given area
Does the atomsphere have a lot or a little bit of carbon
Notice also that the amount of carbon in the atmosphere is relatively small.
Compared to other planets such as Venus and Mars, Earth has very little carbon in its atmosphere. The main reason for this is simple:
life! Plants take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis to make glucose needed for energy.
How do animals such as clams and oysters use carbon in the ocean
animals such as clams and oysters that produce shells take carbon out of the water to build their homes.
what are the shells of oysters and clams mad eout of
Their shells are composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
.
What does the strucuture mantle in oysters and clams allow them to do
These animals have a specialized structure called a mantle that absorbs minerals from the water to produce the calcium carbonate it uses to build the shell around their bodies.
IS the large or small amount opf carbon in rocks and sediments
Additionally, a large amount of carbon is stored in rocks and sediments throughout most of the planet.
residence time
the amount of time carbon spends in a particular reservoir
How to find the residence time
This value can be calculated by dividing the amount of carbon in the reservoir by the rate of input or output.
How does carbom moving fast in the atompshere into the ssediment/rock affect its resdience time
The faster carbon atoms move from the atmosphere into the sediment/rock, the shorter their residence times will be in the atmosphere and the oceans.
What happens if the amount of carbon is so large? How does this affect the resdience time and the time it takes for the depostion into rock?
If the amount of carbon is so large that the residence times increase, then the deposition into rock slows down. The carbon gets stuck in the atmosphere and the oceans, causing them to heat up. This is what is currently happening with climate change.
Where is the main stroage of carbon in organsims
The main storage of carbon in organisms is in plants from photosynthesis or in the shells of mollusks.
what is a reason why there is so little carbon in Earth’s atosmsphere
This is one reason why there is so little carbon in Earth’s atmosphere compared to other planets
Which area is the largest carbon reservoir on Earth?
​Rocks and sediments store more carbon than anywhere else.​
What effect does an excess of carbon have on the atmosphere?
An excess of carbon in the atmosphere warms the planet. The burning of fossil fuels has deposited a large amount of carbon in the air which prevents the sun’s heat energy from escaping the atmosphere.
​How does the structure of a carbohydrate relate to the carbon cycle?​
Carbohydrates are organic molecules, meaning they are composed of carbon and other atoms. The carbon for these molecules comes from the environment when dead organisms are decomposed.
​Why is there so little carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere compared to Venus and Mars?​
​The planet Earth has something those two planets do not have – life. Plants, for example, take carbon out of the air to use during photosynthesis. This dramatically reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the air.​
​What is another way in which living things store carbon?​
Animals that make shells take carbon out of the water or air to form their shells.
​What is the main carbon reservoir for living things?​
The main carbon reservoir for living things is trees and other producers. This is due to photosynthesis taking carbon dioxide out of the air.
How is the residence time of a carbon atom calculated?
The residence time is calculated by dividing the amount of carbon in the reservoir by the rate of input or output.
What is the importance of photosynthesis to the amount of carbon stored in a reservoir?
Photosynthesis is how most of the carbon is removed from the atmosphere and brought into the other reservoirs (like the oceans, soil, and terrestrial biosphere). This process takes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converts it into glucose, which plants use for energy.
carbon footprint
carbon footprint – measure of the impact that human activities have on global warming
greenhouse effect
gases released either naturally or through human activity, block heat from escaping Earth’s atmosphere and in turn increase global temperatures
climate intervention
strategies used by scientists to find alternative ways of storing carbon to reduce or eliminate global warming
What molecules does photosynthesis produce?
Photosynthesis produces glucose and oxygen.
What types of organisms would be considered producers?
Plants and trees are the main producers on land. Algae and bacteria are the main producers in the water.
