Water, Carbon and Climate

Question 1

How are Water and carbon stores essential for life?

Answer 1

Plants are the base of the food chain and rely on carbon which then gets passed up the food chain.

Water is present in the atmosphere was water vapour and carbon exists as carbon dioxide, these are greenhouse gasses, without which the earth would be frozen and inhabitable.

Humans combustion of C02 is leading to an enhanced greenhouse effect where more solar radiation is being trapped in our atmosphere.

Question 2

What are two examples of feedback loops in the water cycle?

Answer 2

POSITIVE:

Temperatures rise ➡️ Evaporation increase ➡️ Amount of water vapour in atmosphere increases 🔄 Greenhouse effect increases.

NEGATIVE:

Temperatures rise ➡️ Evaporation increases ➡️ More cloud cover ➡️ Increased cloud cover reflects more suns energy ➡️ temperatures decrease.

Question 3

Two examples of feedbacks within the carbon cycle:

Answer 3

POSITIVE:

Temperatures rise ➡️ Plant respiration increases ➡️ Amount of C02 increases 🔄 Greenhouse effect increases.

NEGATIVE:

C02 increases ➡️ Extra C02 causes plants to increase growth ➡️ Plants remove and store more C02 ➡️ Amount of C02 in atmosphere reduces.

Question 4

What are some interactions between the water and carbon cycles?

Answer 4

Carbon combines with water in the atmosphere to create chemical weathering which removes carbon from the atmosphere.

Water is required for photosynthesis which removes carbon from the atmosphere.

The amount of C02 in the atmosphere affects temperatures which affect the amount of precipitation.

Question 5

What impacts is climate change having on life on Earth?

Answer 5

Patterns of precipitation may change, wet areas are expected to get wetter and dry areas drier which could lead to conflicts in the future. Extreme weather events are expected to become more frequent with LICs most badly affected.
Agricultural productivity will decrease leading to food shortages.
Sea levels are expected to rise flooding low lying areas
The geographical range of some creatures will change which could damage ecosystems and others could become extinct.
Plankton numbers will decline which will affect the marine food chain.

Question 6

How are humans trying to influence the carbon cycle?

Answer 6

> There is now 40% more C02 in the atmosphere than there was in 1750.

> The IPCC aims to reduce C02 emissions and prevent large temperature rises.

People are tying to reduce the impacts of global warming on a number of scales:

INDIVIDUAL: Using their cars less and buying more fuel efficient cars, they can also make their homes more energy efficient with double glazing etc.

REGIONAL AND NATIONAL: Governments can reduce reliance on fossil fuels for heating and through the creation of renewable energy.
Afforestation provides carbon sinks
Improved public transport
Carbon capture and storage

GLOBAL: Paris Agreement 2015 set out limits for countries C02 emmissions to keep global temperature rise under 1.5°c, this has lead to carbon trading schemes where countries who produce less can sellextra credits.