Water and Carbon cycle advanced information

Question 1

what is an input

Answer 1

When matter or energy is added to a system.

Question 2

what is an output

Answer 2

when matter or energy leaves the system.

Question 3

what is a store/component

Answer 3

where matter or energy builds up.

Question 4

what is a flow/transfer

Answer 4

when matter or energy moves from one store to another.

Question 5

what is equilibrium

Answer 5

When inputs and outputs are balanced.

Flows and processes happen at the same way at all times.

Question 6

what is dynamic equilibrium

Answer 6

Where equilibrium can move due to small variations in inputs and outputs.

Remain balanced on average.

Question 7

what is positive feedback

Answer 7

Amplifies changes in inputs and outputs. This means effect of change increases moving equilibrium further away from original state.

Question 8

what is negative feedback

Answer 8

Mechanisms Counteract change in outputs and inputs. Effects of change are reduced bringing system closer to original state.

Question 9

what is the cryosphere

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

what is the Biosphere

Answer 10

Carbon stored in the tissue of living organisms. Transferred to soil when organisms die and decay.

Contains 0.004% of earths total carbon.

Question 11

what is the atmosphere

Answer 11

Carbon stored as C02 in the atmosphere and methane.

Contains 0.001% of the Earths carbon.

Question 12

what is the lithosphere

Answer 12

Stores over 99.9% of the Earths carbon in sedimentary rocks such as limestone.

Also stores carbon in fossil fuels.

Question 13

what is the hydrosphere

Answer 13

Carbon is stored in the rivers, lakes and oceans.

The oceans store about 0.4% of the earths carbon.

Question 14

what is photosynthesis

Answer 14

Transfers carbon stored in the atmosphere to the biosphere.

Plants mix carbon and water to create oxygen and glucose which helps the plant grow.

Question 15

what is combustion

Answer 15

Transfers carbon from the biosphere to the atmosphere by burning organic material to release carbon into the atmosphere.

Question 16

what is respiration

Answer 16

When living organisms respire they use glucose for energy then release carbon dioxide.

Question 17

what is decomposition

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

what is ocean reuptake and loss

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

what is weathering

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

what is sequestration

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

how do wildfires affect the carbon cycle

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

how do volcanoes affect the carbon cycle

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

how does fossil fuel extraction and use affect the carbon cycle

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

how does deforestation affect the carbon cycle

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

how do farming practices affect the carbon cycle

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

how does land use changes affect the carbon cycle

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

what is the carbon budget

Answer 27

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.

Question 28

why is water and carbon essential for human life

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

how does water vapour in carbon in the atmosphere affect the climate and cause global warming

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

what is a positive feedback loop in the water cycle

Answer 30

Temperatures rise -> Evaporation increases -> Amount of water vapour in atmosphere increases -> Greenhouse effect increases -> Temperatures rise

Question 31

what is a negative feedback loop in the water cycle

Answer 31

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

Question 32

what is a positive feedback loop in the carbon cycle

Answer 32

Temperatures rise -> Plant respiration rate increases -> Amount of CO2 in atmosphere increases -> Greenhouse effect increases -> Temperatures rise

Question 33

what is a negative feedback loop in the carbon cycle

Answer 33

CO2 in atmosphere increases -> Extra CO2 causes plants to increase growth -> Plants remove and store more CO2 from atmosphere -> CO2 in atmosphere decreases

Question 34

how does climate change affect life on Earth

Answer 34

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.

Question 35

how are humans as individuals trying to influence the carbon cycle

Answer 35

People can choose to drive their cars less or buy an electric car.

Make their homes more energy efficient with things such as insulation.

Question 36

how are humans regionally and nationally trying to influence the carbon cycle

Answer 36

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.

Question 37

how are humans globally trying to influence the carbon cycle

Answer 37

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.