Water & Carbon Cycles Flashcards
Outline the process of infiltration as a flow of water within a
drainage basin system. [3 Marks]
- Infiltration is the downward movement of water from the ground surface to the soil.
- The rate of this flow can be limited if the soil is saturated.
- Soil characteristics (mainly porosity) affect the rate of this flow.
What is acidification
Itβs the reduction of PH (making an ocean more acidic), due to dissolving carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
What is Afforestation? & How does it affect the water and carbon cycle
Deifintion: the planting of vegetation and trees with the aim of covering bare land.
Water Cycle: It reduces flooding, as plants and trees take up and store water, and increases the flow of transpiration.
Carbon Cycle: Increases stores of carbon for the biosphere, and decreases stores of carbon for the atmosphere. Once this vegetation dies, this increases stores of carbon in the pedosphere.
What is a flux? Give 1 example each from the water and carbon cycle.
A fancy name for a transfer. In the water cycle, a flux or transfer may be infiltration and in the carbon cycle - it may be acidification.
Give examples of 2 natural processes that can alter the magnitude of stores in the carbon cycle?
Wildfires & volcanic activity
How does a volcanic eruption contribute to the carbon cycle?
- It alters the magnitude of the lithosphereβs carbon stores, and the eruption acts as a transfer of carbon between here and the atmosphere.
- Carbon is stored within the earth in magma, this is released during an eruption. The majority of carbon enters the atmosphere as CO2.
- Recently, eruptions have released much less CO2 than human activities. Still, a large eruption has potential to disrupt the carbon cycle significantly.
How does a wildfires contribute to the carbon cycle?
- They rapidly transfer large quantities of carbon from biomass (or soils) in the pedosphere/biosphere, to the atmosphere. Loss of vegetation decreases photosynthesis, meaning less carbon is removed from the atmosphere.
Why can wildfires actually be a good thing?
They sometimes encourage growth of new plants, which takes in carbon from the atmosphere via photosynthesis. Depending on the amount and type of regrowth, fires can have a neutral effect on the amount of atmospheric carbon.
Particular conifers also rely on wildfires, some have pinecones that are only activated when temperatures rise due to a wildfire. Such pinecones often burst open, due to the extreme temperatures of a wildfire, meaning millions are scattered - and can travel distances in the hot air, starting new forests.
What major event market a HUGE increase on the impacts that humans have on the carbon cycle?
The industrial revolution.
What particular stores are we seeing a rapid transfer from (of Carbon)?
Lithosphere & biosphere to atmosphere, faster transfer than natural
How can land use changes affect the carbon cycle? (donβt include FARMING, thatβs included in my agriculture question)
Change of land from natural/agricultural (farmland) to urban is a major source of carbon.
- Vegetation is removed to make way for buildings and infrastructure (foundations), reduces biosphere stores - these transfer to atmosphere.
- Concerete production for surfaces, and use of machinery in building releases lots of CO2. Lithosphere to atmosphere.
How can hydrocarbon extraction / fossil fuel extraction (same thing) affect the carbon cycle?
Extracting and burning (combustion) of fossil fuels releases CO2 into the atmosphere.
Without human intervention, the carbon would remain sequestered (stored) in the lithosphere for thousands/millions of years to come.
How can Agriculture (same thing) affect the carbon cycle? Also, how has an increased population meant that farming has become a big contributor?
- Animals release CO2 and methane into the atmosphere with digestion and respiration.
- Ploughing can release CO2 stored in soil.
Growing rice in rice paddies released methane.
As the worldβs population has increased, thereβs been an increased need for food production. As a result, farming practises have increased. Mechanisation for farming has also increased CO2 emissions.
Whatβs the carbon budget?
The difference between inputs of carbon into a subsystem and outputs from it (a subsystem = biosphere, lithosphere, etcβ¦)
Are the spheres in the carbon cycle in balance with eachother?
No sphere is in balance with any other.
What are the main sinks in the carbon cycle. And what is the main source?
Sinks: Biosphere, hydrosphere, pedosphere & Source: Lithosphere.
How does the carbon and water cycle interact [4]
-1 Carbon Dioxide & Water are both needed for photosynthesis. [1]
-2 Both are also released during volcanic eruption [1]
-3 Increasing concentrations of CO2 (and Methane) mean that a global warming effect occur. [1] Due to this, levels of precipitation may rise - due to more evaporation of water vapor. Alternatively, in high pressure areas, these high levels of evaporation could contribute to arid land.
-4 Decomposition requires CO2 and water (For decomposers - i.e. Fungi to live - damp conditions)
-5 Melting of permafrost (releasing water) can lead to increased atmospheric levels of CO2.
What is the reflection of the sun from the earthβs surface known as? How is this affected by global warming.
What is the movement of water around the oceans known as?
Thermohaline circulation: salt makes water heavier; sinks to bottom; cold water heavier; sinks to bottom; global warming will interupt this, less saline water and warmer > flow disrupted.
How much are sea levels rising each year?
around 3mm
How much is sea level predicted to rise by end of this century?
around 0.8m
What 2 factors cause sea level rise?
Terestrial Ice Melting: Due to global warming, higher surface temperatures, ice melts > positive feedback > leads to more temperature increase as more bare land means more absorption.
Thermal expansion: when the sea warms it expands.
What type of feedback is caused by changes in albedo and why?
Positive: Less ice and more sea, lowers albedo, more heat absorbed so oceans become warmer (oceans have higher albedo - ability to absorb sunlight).
Why is ocean acidification a problem?
Releases Hydrogen into the water that means it attracts towards carbonate, which results in biocarbonate, animals canβt use this to make their shells. More energy eeded to get calcium, shells are thinner and pitted (dissolved by acidic ocean) > coral reef loss.
