carbon budget

Question 1

carbon budget=

Answer 1

the difference between the inputs and outputs- this determines whether a subsystem will be a carbon source or sink

Question 2

ocean acidification- IMPACTS ON OCEAN

Answer 2

• 30% of the co2 from atmosphere goes into the oceans
• dissolving co2 creates carbonic acid so the oceans become more acidic
• carbonate atoms are needed for species of coral to create their shells, if there’s less of it available their shells are thinner and more fragile
• reef lost affects coastal communities and ecosystems

Question 3

ocean warming- IMPACTS ON OCEANS

Answer 3

• increased water temps could decrease phytoplankton-this could limit the oceans ability to take carbon from atmosphere to the biological pump
• it also kills symbiotic algae which coral needs in order to grow=this leads to the bleaching of reefs

Question 4

melting sea ice- IMPACTS ON OCEANS

Answer 4

• in the last 35 years, Artic sea ice has retreated by 40%
• sea ice provides a unique habitat for algae which is more concentrated in ice
• the loss of this algae affects marine animals

Question 5

how much do sea levels rise

Answer 5

3.5 mm a year

Question 6

impacts on land

Answer 6

• co2 allows plants to grow
• changes in co2 on land can reduce the amount stored in the land-warmer temps cause permafrost to melt so carbon is released into the atmosphere
• it can also increase the frequency of wildfires

Question 7

impacts on the atmosphere

Answer 7

• ENHANCED GREENHOUSE GASES= where co2 and other ghg in the atmosphere are causing radiactive forcing
• the concept of this is where energy is constantly flowing in the atmosphere in the form of sunlight
• some is reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed by the earth-concentration of ghg causes temps to rise