Water and Carbon cycle advanced information Flashcards
what is an input
When matter or energy is added to a system.
what is an output
when matter or energy leaves the system.
what is a store/component
where matter or energy builds up.
what is a flow/transfer
when matter or energy moves from one store to another.
what is equilibrium
When inputs and outputs are balanced.
Flows and processes happen at the same way at all times.
what is dynamic equilibrium
Where equilibrium can move due to small variations in inputs and outputs.
Remain balanced on average.
what is positive feedback
Amplifies changes in inputs and outputs. This means effect of change increases moving equilibrium further away from original state.
what is negative feedback
Mechanisms Counteract change in outputs and inputs. Effects of change are reduced bringing system closer to original state.
what is the cryosphere
Where carbon is stored in soil in areas of permafrost where decomposing animals and plants are frozen into the ground.
Contains less than 0.01% of Earths carbon.
what is the Biosphere
Carbon stored in the tissue of living organisms. Transferred to soil when organisms die and decay.
Contains 0.004% of earths total carbon.
what is the atmosphere
Carbon stored as C02 in the atmosphere and methane.
Contains 0.001% of the Earths carbon.
what is the lithosphere
Stores over 99.9% of the Earths carbon in sedimentary rocks such as limestone.
Also stores carbon in fossil fuels.
what is the hydrosphere
Carbon is stored in the rivers, lakes and oceans.
The oceans store about 0.4% of the earths carbon.
what is photosynthesis
Transfers carbon stored in the atmosphere to the biosphere.
Plants mix carbon and water to create oxygen and glucose which helps the plant grow.
what is combustion
Transfers carbon from the biosphere to the atmosphere by burning organic material to release carbon into the atmosphere.
what is respiration
When living organisms respire they use glucose for energy then release carbon dioxide.
what is decomposition
When an organism dies its body is broken down by detritivores who then release carbon into the atmosphere while the organism is being broken down.
Some carbon enters the soil as hummus.
what is ocean reuptake and loss
When carbon is directly dissolved into the ocean from the atmosphere. Some organisms from the water like plankton take it from the atmosphere.
Carbon is also transferred from the ocean to the atmosphere when carbon rich water rises to the surface.
what is weathering
Chemical weathering transfers carbon from the atmosphere to the hydrosphere and biosphere.
Atmospheric carbon reacts with water vapour to create acid rain. The acid rain may dissolve rock which washes into sea.
what is sequestration
Carbon can be captured from the atmosphere and held in sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels for millions of years. Fossil fuels are dead animals and plants compacted possibly from the ocean over millions of years.
Carbon is only released from fossil fuels due to combustion.
how do wildfires affect the carbon cycle
Wildfires rapidly transfer carbon from the biosphere to the atmosphere through combustion. Loss of vegetation means less vegetation which means less carbon being removed from the atmosphere.
In long term wildfires can encourage growth of new plants which can take in carbon through photosynthesis due to how fertile the ground is after.
how do volcanoes affect the carbon cycle
Carbon stored in the lithosphere is released when the volcano erupts into the atmosphere. A very large eruption would have the ability to affect the carbon system significantly.
how does fossil fuel extraction and use affect the carbon cycle
Extracting the fossil fuel from the earth and combusting it releases carbon into the atmosphere. The Carbon would otherwise remain sequestered for millions of years.
how does deforestation affect the carbon cycle
Forests may be cleared for agriculture and developments.
The trees being removed removes a carbon store and if it is combusted there is a rapid flow of CO2 from the biosphere to the atmosphere.
how do farming practices affect the carbon cycle
Animals such as cows release CO2 when they respire and eat food.
Ploughing soil releases carbon that was trapped in the soil.
As the Earths population increases so does the amount of farming and mechanisation of farming all produce CO2.
how does land use changes affect the carbon cycle
When making way for urban areas natural areas are often destroyed. This removes potential carbon stores in the vegetation. The production of concrete also produces a lot of CO2.
what is the carbon budget
The difference between the inputs of carbon into a subsystem and the outputs of carbon from it.
If the inputs outweigh the outputs in a subsystem it is classed as a carbon sink.
If the outputs outweigh the inputs it is classed as a carbon source.
why is water and carbon essential for human life
All living things contain carbon and all living things need water to survive.
Plants form the bases of most food chains and need CO2 and water to survive.
Water vapour and CO2 are in the atmosphere and act as greenhouse gases to prevent energy escaping into space and keeping the Earth a habitable temperature.
how does water vapour in carbon in the atmosphere affect the climate and cause global warming
Scientists agree an increase in these greenhouse gases is causing an enhanced greenhouse effect so the temperature increases further which affects the climate and causes global warming.
what is a positive feedback loop in the water cycle
Temperatures rise -> Evaporation increases -> Amount of water vapour in atmosphere increases -> Greenhouse effect increases -> Temperatures rise
what is a negative feedback loop in the water cycle
Temperatures rise -> Evaporation increases -> Amount of water vapour in atmosphere increases causing more clouds to form -> Increased cloud cover reflects more of suns energy back into space -> Temperatures fall
what is a positive feedback loop in the carbon cycle
Temperatures rise -> Plant respiration rate increases -> Amount of CO2 in atmosphere increases -> Greenhouse effect increases -> Temperatures rise
what is a negative feedback loop in the carbon cycle
CO2 in atmosphere increases -> Extra CO2 causes plants to increase growth -> Plants remove and store more CO2 from atmosphere -> CO2 in atmosphere decreases
how does climate change affect life on Earth
Changes in precipitation as wet areas expected to get wetter and dry areas get drier, could lead to conflicts in the future.
Extreme weather events such as storms and floods are expected to be more frequent.
Sea level rise will flood low lying areas and coastal regions.
Geographical range of species will decrease.
Agricultural productivity will decrease in some places, could cause conflict.
how are humans as individuals trying to influence the carbon cycle
People can choose to drive their cars less or buy an electric car.
Make their homes more energy efficient with things such as insulation.
how are humans regionally and nationally trying to influence the carbon cycle
Governments reduce reliance on fossil fuels by increasing availability and reducing cost of renewables.
Afforestation by restoring degraded forests.
Increase sustainability by investing in public transport.
Invest in Carbon capture methods.
how are humans globally trying to influence the carbon cycle
International agreements like Paris agreement (2015) to keep emissions within set limits.
Carbon trading schemes where businesses are given limit on emissions. Can sell extra credits if they produce less carbon and have to buy more if they produce more.
