What Is The Carbon Budget Flashcards
What is the carbon budget
How much carbon is emitted and how much is absorbed
How do you calculate the carbon budget
It can be calculated using the carbon footprint calculator
What is your carbon footprint
The total amount of greenhouse gas produced to directly and indirectly support human activity
What are the different scales that carbon budget can be measured at
Individual
Business
National
Global
What is the individual carbon budget
How much carbon is produced by our own activities such as heating our home, food we eat and how much carbon is absorbed from the plants in our garden
What is the business carbon budget and how can it vary
How much carbon is produced to run a business which can fluctuate based on factors like time of day or seasons
What is the national carbon budget
As part of international agreements countries must consider how much carbon try are producing compared to how much is being absorbed
What is the global carbon budget important
The global carbon budget is interconnected meaning changes in one region affect others
What is ocean acidification
It occurs as CO2 dissolves into the ocean
What does ocean acidification cause
Forms carbonic acid and increasing acidity
How much has the oceans ph dropped since 1750
The pH has dropped by 0.1 representing a 30% increase in acidity
What is coral bleaching and where is it occurring
Coral bleaching happens when unicellular organisms in coral die leaving it white. This is mainly occurring on the great barrier reef
Why are coral reefs important in the carbon cycle
Coral reefs absorb more CO2 than any other vegetation and acts as a vital carbon sink
How does ocean warming affect phytoplankton
Phytoplankton thieves in cooler, nutrient rich water. Warmer water reduces their abundance decreasing the oceans carbon storage capacity
Why does warmer water absorb less CO2
Warm water is less efficient at absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere
