Water, carbon, climate and life on earth

Question 1

Impacts of changing carbon on oceans

Answer 1

Carbon is dissolved directly into oceans from the atmosphere.
The carbon cycle also changes the chemistry of oceans, increased atmospheric CO2 can increase the acidity of oceans, affecting marine life.
Phytoplankton - more carbon = more photosynthesis which in turn would be a negative feedback system.
Other organisms can also use CO2 to form calcium carbonate shells and skeletons.
Many species are very sensitive to temperature and salinity. If this alters at a faster rate than they can adapt, then the populations of such species would diminish, turning it into a positive feedback system.

Question 2

Global warming and its affect on oceans

Answer 2

Phytoplankton numbers may also decrease as they cant survive high temperatures. This results in less CO2 being removed by them from the atmosphere, so the global temperature continues to increase.
Warmer water also has less capacity to dissolve CO2, so more of it remains in the atmosphere.

Question 3

Impacts of changing carbon on the atmosphere and climate

Answer 3

High atmospheric carbon = global warming due to the enhanced green house effect.
This means that more intense storms will be predicted.
Global warming also has the potential to alter the global atmospheric circulation cells, which in turn would upset surface area movement (winds) and ocean currents.

Question 4

Impacts of changing carbon on the land

Answer 4

The carbon cycle, in particular photosynthesis, allows plants to grow. If there was no decomposition, dead plants would remain where they fell and their nutrients would never be recycled.
Changes in the carbon cycle can reduce the amount of carbon stored on land.
e.g. warm temperatures can cause permafrost to melt. this releases carbon into the atmosphere.
Increasing global temperatures cam also lead to wildfires.