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water and carbon Flashcards

1
Q

What is the definition of an open system

A

Both energy and matter can enter and leave

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2
Q

What is an example of an open system

A

Drainage basin:
Energy from the sun enters and leaves the system. Water is input as precipitation, and output as river discharge into the sea

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3
Q

What is the definition of a closed system

A

Matter cant enter or leave, it can only cycle between stores
Energy can enter and leave a closed system- it can be input or output

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4
Q

What is an example of a closed system

A

The carbon cycle is a closed system-energy is input from the sun in photosynthesis and output through respiration. But the amount of carbon on Earth stays the same because there are no inputs or outputs of matter

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5
Q

What is dynamic equilibrium

A

Small variations in inputs and outputs that remain balanced on average.

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6
Q

What is positive feedback

A

Amplify the change in the inputs or outputs. This means that the system responds by increasing the effects of the change, moving the system even further from its previous state.

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7
Q

What is an example of positive feedback

A
  1. Temperatures rise
  2. Ice covering cold parts of Earth melts due to higher temperatures
  3. Less ice cover means less of the Sun’s energy is reflected
  4. Less of Sun’s energy being reflected means more is absorbed by the Earth
    –> temperature rises
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8
Q

What is negative feedback

A

Counteracts the change in the inputs and outputs
This means that the system responds by decreasing the effects of the change, keeping the system closer to its previous state.

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9
Q

What is an example of negative feedback

A
  1. Large amounts of co2 emitted
  2. co2 in atmosphere increases
  3. extra co2 causes plants to increase growth
  4. Plants remove and store more co2 from the atmosphere
  5. Amount of co2 in atmosphere reduces
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10
Q

What are the subsystems of the earth

A

cryosphere
lithosphere
biosphere
hydrosphere
atmosphere

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11
Q

What is the cryosphere

A

Includes all parts of the earths system where its cold enough for water to freeze
e.g glacial landscapes

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12
Q

What is the lithosphere

A

the outermost part of the earth. it includes the crust and the upper parts of the mantle

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13
Q

What is the biosphere

A

It is part of the earths system where living things are found. It includes all the living parts of earth- plants, animals, fungi, bacteria

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14
Q

What is the hydrosphere

A

It includes all the water on earth. It may be in liquid form (lakes), solid form(ice stored in the cryosphere) or gas form (water vapour stored in the atmosphere)
It can also be saline or fresh

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15
Q

What is the atmosphere

A

The atmosphere is the layer of gas between the earth’s surface and space, held in place by gravity.

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16
Q

How much of the earths water is freshwater

A

3%

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17
Q

Of earths fresh water…….

A

69% is frozen in the cryosphere
30% is groundwater
0.3% is liquid freshwater on the earth’s surface in lakes and rivers etc.
0.04% is stored as water vapour in the atmosphere

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18
Q

What is evaporation and what causes it to change in magnitude

A

When liquid water changes state into a gas, becoming water vapour- it gains energy, normally from solar radiation. This increases the amount of water in the atmosphere
If there’s lots of solar radiation, a large supply of water and warm, dry air, the amount of evaporation will be high
If there is not much solar radiation, little available liquid water and cool air that is already nearly saturated, evaporation will be slow

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19
Q

What is condensation and what causes it to change in magnitude

A

Condensation occurs when water vapour changes state to become liquid- it loses energy to the surroundings. It happens when air containing water vapour cools to its dew point.
Water droplets can stay in the atmosphere or flow to other subsystems. This decreases the amount of water stored in the atmosphere.
The magnitude of the condensation flow depends on the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere and the temperature.

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20
Q

What is the main flow of water from the atmosphere to the ground

A

precipitation

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21
Q

How are clouds formed

A

warm air cools down, causing water vapour in it to condense into water droplets, which gather as clouds. When droplets are big enough they fall as precipitation.

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22
Q

What is a drainage basin

A

area surrounding the river where the rain falling on the land flows into the river

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23
Q

What are the inputs of a drainage basin

A

Precipitation

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24
Q

What are the stores in a drainage basin

A

Interception
Vegetation storage
Surface storage-puddles, ponds, lakes
Soil storage
Ground water storage- the water table is the top surface of the zone of saturation
Channel storage-water held in a river or stream channel

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25
What are the flows in a drainage basin
Infiltration-influenced by soil type, soil structure, soil saturation Overland flow-rain falls on the ground faster that infiltration can occur throughfall-water dripping from leaf to leaf Stemflow Percolation-water seeping down soil into the water table Groundwater flow-flow below the water table through permeable rock
26
What are the outputs of a drainage basin
Evaporation Transpiration-evaporation within leaves Evapotranspiration-evaporation and transpiration together river discharge
27
What is potential evapotranspiration
Amount of water that could be lost by evapotranspiration. Actual evapotranspiration is what actually happens. For example in a desert potential evapotranspiration is high because of the heat but actual transpiration is low because there isnt much moisture
28
What is the water balance
Changes in inputs and outputs and affects how much water is stored in the basin
29
Outline seasonal changes in the water balance.
In wet seasons, precipitation is higher than evapotranspiration. This creates a water surplus In dry seasons precipitation is lower than evapotranspiration and water in the ground store is depleted This leads to a water deficit
30
What is a hydrograph
Show a river discharge over a period of time
31
What is river discharge
Volume of water that flows in a river per second
32
What does a hydrograph include
lag time rising limb peak rainfall peak discharge falling limb
33
What is peak discharge
this is the highest point on the graph, when the river discharge is at its greatest
34
What is lag time
This is the delay between peak rainfall and peak discharge. This delay happens because it takes time for rainwater to flow into the river
35
What is rising limb
part of the graph up to peak discharge
36
What is falling limb
after peak discharge. decreasing as less water flowing into the river
37
What are the features of a flashy hydrograph
Short lag time steep rising and falling limb high flood risk high peak discharge
38
What are the features of a subdued hydrograph
long lag time gradually rising and falling limb lower flood risk low peak discharge
39
What factors affect the shape of a hydrograph and runoff
size of drainage basin shape of drainage basin ground steepness rock and soil type
40
How does size of drainage basin effect the hydrograph
large ones catch more precipitation, so have a higher peak discharge. Smaller basins generally have shorter lag times because precipitation has less distance to travel, so reaches the main channel quicker
41
How does shape of a drainage basin affect a hydrograph
circular basins have flashy hydrographs as all the points on the watershed are equidistant to the point of discharge measurement
42
How does ground steepness effect a hydrograph
water flows quicker downhill shortening lag time. Also means that water has less time to infiltrate the soil, so runoff is higher
43
How does rock and soil type affect a hydrograph
impermeable rocks and soils dont store water so more surface runoff Peak discharge also increases as more water goes to the river
44
Define the term carbon cycle
The movement of carbon between different stores in the earth system, including the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere
45
Meaning of lithosphere
Rigid outer layer of the earth consisting of the crust and upper mantle
46
What is a carbon sink
Reservoir that absorbs and stores more carbon than it releases
47
Definition of pedosphere
Outermost layer of the earth that consists of soil and is subject to soil formation processes
48
What are the main forms of carbon found in the lithosphere
Sedimentary rocks such as limestone, hydrocarbons and marine sediments from shells and marine skeletons
49
What is the residence time of carbon in the atmosphere
Approximately 6 years
50
Define carbon biomolecules
Organic molecules including carbohydrates, fats, etc Form 50% of the total dry mass of living things
51
What are the two main systems of carbon flows between major stores
Long term Short term
52
Define photosynthesis
Process by which plants use co2 from the atmosphere and water in the soil, using energy from sunlight to produce carbohydrates
53
What does sequestration mean in the context of the carbon cycle
Process where carbon is removed from the atmosphere and stored in liquid or soil form, such as in rocks of the lithosphere or plants of the biosphere
54
Define carbonation
A form of chemical weathering where atmospheric co2 combines with water vapour to produce carbonic acid, which reacts with rocks containing calcium carbonate
55
What is thermohaline circulation
The global ocean conveyor belt system that distributes heat and carbon around the planet through deep ocean currents
56
What is a biological pump
The process by which photosynthesis by phytoplankton and other marine organisms converts co2 into organic matter transporting carbon from the oceans surface to deeper waters
57
What is the solubility cycle in oceans
Process by which co2 absorbed from the atmosphere forms carbonic acid which reacts to form bicarbonates and carbonates some of which organisms use to make shells or skeletons
58
Define carbon capture and storage
Technological process of capturing carbon dioxide from industrial sources, separating it, treating it and transporting it to a long term storage location
59
Define the quaternary period
Most recent geological period spanning the last 2.6 million years characterised by fluctuations between glacial and interglacial periods
60
What is an interglacial period
Warmer phase between ice ages or glacial periods
61
What is permafrost
Permanently frozen ground typically found in tundra and arctic regions that contains plant material and stores carbon
62
What is the treeline
Edge of the habitat at which trees are capable of growing often determined by cold temperatures in tundra regions
63
What is insolation
Incoming solar radiation that reaches earths surface
64
What does ppm stand for in relation to atmospheric co2 levels
Parts per million
65
What does anthropogenic mean
Originating from human activities or human made typically in reference to environmental impacts
66
What percentage of total anthropogenic co2 emissions is generated by the cement industry
7.5%
67
In what ways do agricultural practices indirectly release carbon
Through burning fossil fuels to run machinery and fertilisers based on fissile fuels
68
Percentage of all released carbon due to changes in land use
All released carbon due to changes in land use is 10%
69
Define carbon budget
Amount of carbon stored and transferred within the carbon cycle on a global or local scale including carbon emissions by various processes against natural or human sequestration
70
What is carbon footprint
Total amount of greenhouse gases produced to support human activities, expressed in gigatonnes of co2 equivalent per year
71
Define algal bloom
Rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in freshwater or marine water systems, often causes by increased levels of nutrients
72
What is the natural greenhouse effect
Process by which greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb and emit radiation warming the earths lower atmosphere and surface to maintain an average temperature of 14C
73
Define ocean acidification
When ph levels decrease due to increased levels of absorbed co2
74
What effects are changes in the carbon cycle having on parts of the cryosphere
Melting permafrost releasing more carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere
75
What effect do limits of water have on carbon cycling in ecosystems
Any limits on water reduce plant growth which reduces carbon cycling and the transfer of nutrients back to the soil; a lack of nutrients and water exposes the soil to erosion; erosion can lead to desertification
76
What does the albedo effect mean
Refers to a surface,s reflectivity particularly how much sunlight the earths surface reflects
77
State one negative feedback loop due to a warming atmosphere
Warmer temperatures extends the plant growing season. This increases carbon absorption from the atmosphere and increases the carbon sink in the soil
78
How does melting permafrost act as a positive feedback loop
Because methane is released into the atmosphere. Methane is more potent greenhouse gas than co2. Currently permafrost stores hundreds of gigatons of methane
79
What is agroforestry
Practices of growing trees alongside crops or pasture to increase carbon absorption and provide other environmental benefits
80
Define peatland
Thick organic soils that are low in oxygen and high in water, which inhibit microbial decomposition of plant litter allowing for thick organic layers to build up
81
What is the Kyoto protocol
International treaty adopted in 1997 that committed industrialised countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions
82
What was the Paris climate conventions goal with temperature increases
1.5C
83
What is carbon farming
Replacing one type of crop with another that absorbs more co2 from the atmosphere, such as legumes and grasses
84
Define cap and trade
A system where governments set a limit on the amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted and allow companies to buy and sell emission allowances
85
What is zero tillage
Farming practice that involves minimal or no disturbances of the soil to reduce carbon release and maintain soil quality
86
what percentage of all human greenhouse gas emissions does agriculture take up
1/4
87
what is the largest source of carbon emission
enteric fermentation-where methane is released by livestock following digestion
88
how much does livestock account for all anthropogenic emissions
14.5%
89
how much do rice paddies make up for total agricultural emissions
10%
90
What is geological sequestration
CO2 captured at its source(power plants) and then injected in liquid form into stores underground
91
What is terrestrial sequestration
use of plants to capture co2 from the atmosphere and then to store it as carbon in the stems and roots of the plants as well as in the soil
92
ideas to mitigate climate change
increased use of renewable energy urban design improving aviation industry changing rural land use
93
What are the inorganic deposits of carbon in the lithosphere
fossil fuels coal oil natural gas
94
How much carbon do peat bogs contain
4,100 GtC
95
What are the three organic stores in the ocean
euphoric zone twilight zone living organic matter
96
What is the euphoric zone
the surface level of the ocean where sunlight penetrates so that photosynthesis can take place
97
What is the twilight zone
the deep layer of water containing 37,100 GtC
98
What percentage of a plants biomass is carbon
35-65%
99
What percentage does co2 make up of the atmosphere
0.04%
100
What is a link between the carbon cycle and tectonic forces
Carbonaceous sea-floor deposits are pushed deep into the earth where they heat up, eventually melt and can rise back up to the surface through volcanic eruptions or vents. returning co2 to the atmosphere
101
What is vertical deep mixing
It occurs when warm water in oceanic surface currents is carried from the warm tropics to the cold polar regions. Here water is cooled making it dense enough to sink below the surface layer, sometimes all the way to the ocean bed. When at the surface co2 is released
102
Why does volcanic eruptions not always cause global warming
the warming effect of emitted co2 is counterbalanced by the large amount of sulphur dioxide that is given out-conversion of sulphur dioxide to sulphuric acid forms fine droplets, increasing the reflection of radiation from the sun back into space cooling the earth
103
How much does agriculture and forestry make up of all human greenhouse gas emissions
1/4
104
How much does asia output of agriculture-related greenhouse gas
the FAO said 45%
105
What are the disadvantages of terrestrial sequestration
forests planted to capture carbon might lose that carbon back to the air in a forest fire land based sequestration plantations are slow growing and require active management The carbon within those systems is never removed permanently from the atmospheric system
106
If 10% of permafrost melted how much would it raise global temperatures
0.7%
107

Water and Carbon cycle (3 decks)

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