Y12 MB - Carbon cycle (Complete)

Question 1

Where is the largest proportion of carbon stored?

Answer 1

The lithosphere (over 99%)

Question 2

Carbon dissolves in water to form ———

Answer 2

Carbonic acid (H2CO)

Question 3

What is the pedosphere?

Answer 3

The outermost layer of the earth, consisting of soil

Question 4

What is the process of photosynthesis?

Answer 4

Process whereby plants turn light energy from the sun to produce carbohydrates in the form of glucose

Question 5

What is the process of respiration?

Answer 5

Chemical process that happens in all cells where glucose is converted to
energy

Question 6

What is the process of decomposition?

Answer 6

The process by which complex organic substances are broken down into
simpler matter

Question 7

What is the process of combustion?

Answer 7

Process where organic material is converted into energy by burning

Question 8

What is the process of sequestration?

Answer 8

Transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to long-term storage, e.g. plants,
soils, rock formations and oceans

Question 9

What is the process of weathering?

Answer 9

The chemical, physical and biological breakdown of rocks

Question 10

What is the rock cycle?

Answer 10

Carbon moves through the rock cycle through processes of weathering,
erosion, burial, subduction and volcanic eruptions

Question 11

What are examples of physical weathering?

Answer 11

Frost shattering
Salt crystallisation
Wetting and drying

Question 12

What are examples of chemical weathering?

Answer 12

Carbonation
Oxidation
Solution

Question 13

What is the process of carbonation?

Answer 13

Carbon can dissolve into water to form carbonic acid
This reacts with calcium carbonate minerals in rocks, dissolving them through chemical weathering
This then transfers the carbon in the form of calcium bicarbonate (in solution) to rivers and oceans
This can then be used by marine organisms to create calcium carbonate shells
Through death and decay, organism remains can move to the sea floor and be compressed into sedimentary rock

Question 14

Mitigation

Answer 14

Any process used to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases

Question 15

Carbon capture and storage (CCS)

Answer 15

The technological ‘capturing’ of carbon emitted from power stations. Atmospheric carbon dioxide is compressed into a liquid and then pumped and stored several kilometres into the ground

Question 16

Anthropogenic

Answer 16

Human impact on the environment

Question 17

Carbon budget

Answer 17

A way of using data to describe the amount of carbon that is stored and transferred with the carbon cycle

Question 18

Mitigation

Answer 18

Any method used to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions

Question 19

Renewable energy

Answer 19

Energy generated from sources which can be renewed and reused multiple times (such as solar, hydroelectric etc)

Question 20

Carbon farming

Answer 20

Where one type of crop is replaced by another which has a greater productivity and has the ability to absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Question 21

Lithosere

Answer 21

A vegetation succession that originates on a bare rocky surface.
Bare rock is colonised by lichens, followed by mosses and grass.
Eventually, soil builds up which allows trees to grow until climatic climax is reached

Question 22

Seral stage

Answer 22

A stage within sere

Question 23

Sere

Answer 23

A complete vegetation succession

Question 24

Vegetation succession

Answer 24

The sequence of changes that take place as plant life colonises bare rock, sand, water or salty areas

Question 25

Climatic climax

Answer 25

The final stage of seral succession.
Vegetation remains relatively unchanged afterwards unless destroyed by a destructive event such as a fire or human interference

Question 26

Humus

Answer 26

The organic component of soil, formed by the decomposition of leaves and other plant material by soil organisms

Question 27

Milankovitch cycles

Answer 27

Changes in the shape of the Earth’s orbit and tilt which causes glacial and interglacial periods.
This is a long-term natural cause of climate change which can result in colder temperatures (slowing vegetation growth and decomposition) and cooler oceans (more carbon sequestration)

Question 28

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 28

Rising global temperatures due to greenhouse gases from human activity being released into the atmosphere

Question 29

Hydrocarbons

Answer 29

Compounds of hydrogen and carbon which are the basis of fossil fuels (e.g coil and natural gas)

Question 30

Photosynthesis

Answer 30

The process where plants use light energy from the sun to produce carbohydrates in the form of glucose.
Carbon dioxide + water —> glucose + oxygen

Question 31

Respiration

Answer 31

A chemical process which occurs in all cells where glucose of converted into energy
Glucose + oxygen —> carbon dioxide + water

Question 32

Decomposition

Answer 32

The process where complex organic substances are broken down into simple matter

Question 33

Combustion

Answer 33

The process where organic matter is converted into energy through burning

Question 34

Carbon sequestration

Answer 34

The transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to long-term storage in plants, soils, rock formations and oceans

Question 35

Diffusion

Answer 35

The movement of particles from an area of high to low concentration (an example of this is when carbon dioxide dissolves in sea water by diffusion)

Question 36

Weathering

Answer 36

The chemical, physical and biological breakdown of rock in situ

Question 37

Lithification

Answer 37

This is a process of sedimentary rock formation
Carbon deposits at the bottom of the ocean from the remains of marine organisms which experience high amounts of pressure due to the building layers over time. This forms sedimentary carbon-rich rocks such as chalk and limestone

Question 38

Carbon sink / source

Answer 38

A carbon sink is where more carbon is released than absorbed
A carbon source is where more carbon is absorbed than released

Question 39

What is the ocean carbon pump?

Answer 39

This is a process of ocean sequestration
Carbon dioxide dissolves into water at the surface of the ocean via diffusion. As the water is carried to the poles, it cools and sinks to the deep ocean where some carbon is deposited and stored at the sea bed. The sea water rises to the surface and is warmed causing carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere.
Overall, less carbon dioxide is released than absorbed