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AQA A-Level Physical Geography > P1 Section A (Carbon Cycle) > Flashcards

P1 Section A (Carbon Cycle) Flashcards

1
Q

What are the forms of carbon on earth

A

The forms of carbon on earth are hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, methane, calcium carbonate (limestone) and biomolecules

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2
Q

What is an inorganic form of carbon.

A

An inorganic form of carbon is fossil fuel

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3
Q

What is an organic from of carbon

A

An organic from of carbon is biomass

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4
Q

What are the origins of carbon on earth

A

The origins of carbon on earth are the mantle, plate boundaries, the atmosphere, sedimentary rocks, biomass and the oceans

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5
Q

What are the four major carbon store

A

the four major carbon stores are the hydrosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere and biosphere

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6
Q

How is carbon stored in the hydrosphere (living, dissolved)

A

Carbon is stored in the hydrosphere by living organic matter, plants and dissolved CO2

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7
Q

What is the biggest carbon store on earth

A

The biggest carbon store on earth is the lithosphere

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8
Q

what is photosynthesis

A

photosynthesis is when plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere to produce sugars for plant growth and it transfers to biomass storage

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9
Q

what is respiration

A

respiration is when glucose is converted to energy so living plants and animals can grow, repair, move and also controls body temperature in mammals and carbon dioxide is a by-product returned to atmosphere by breathing

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10
Q

what is decomposition

A

decomposition is the breakdown of organic matter by bacteria or fungi and releases carbon primarily into the atmosphere especially when weather is warm and water is present which promotes microbial activity

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11
Q

what is combustion

A

combustion is when organic material is burned in presence of oxygen and is converted to energy, C02 and water and carbon dioxide is released into atmosphere

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12
Q

How does the biosphere store carbon

A

The biosphere stores carbon by plants and animals and also in soil

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13
Q

How is crude oil and natural gas formed

A

crude oil and natural gas is formed by the compression and cementation of decomposed matter

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14
Q

How does the atmosphere store carbon

A

The atmosphere stores carbon as it is held in the air as a gas and also when mixed with water vapour it forms acid rain

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15
Q

How does limestone form

A

Limestone forms by the cementation of calcium carbonate of dead marine organisms

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16
Q

How does coal form

A

Coal forms by compression of land-based plants in swamps

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17
Q

How does chemical weathering of rock release carbon

A

chemical weathering of rock releases carbon by carbonic rain hitting carbon-rich rocks and forming calcium carbonate which is then dissolved and transported into the sea

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18
Q

How do volcanoes release carbon

A

volcanoes release carbon as sedimentary rock is heated releasing CO2 via outgassing

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19
Q

What is carbon sequestration

A

carbon sequestration is when carbon is transferred from the atmosphere to plants, soils, oceans and rocks like where dead animals are compacted into fossil fuels or human process like carbon capture systems

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20
Q

How do primary producers sequester carbon

A

primary producers sequester carbon by transferring it to grow via photosynthesis

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21
Q

How did primary consumers sequester carbon

A

Primary consumers sequester carbon by respiration when eating primary producers

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22
Q

How do decomposers sequester carbon

A

decomposers sequester carbon by consuming dead organic matter and returning the carbon to the atmosphere by respiration

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23
Q

How does phytoplankton sequester carbon

A

phytoplankton sequesters carbon by taking up CO2 to build up their shells from calcium carbonate, they will then be consumed by other other organisms which respire, returning the carbon to the atmosphere

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24
Q

How do soils sequester biological carbon

A

soils sequester biological carbon by decomposing dead organic matter and absorbing

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25
Q

What is biological carbon sequestration determined by

A

biological carbon sequestration is determined by temperature and climate

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26
Q

How much carbon do mangrove sequester per hectare annually

A

mangroves sequester 1.5 tonnes of carbon per hectare annually

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27
Q

How do mangroves store carbon

A

Mangroves store carbon in their soils and roots consisting of litter, humus and peat which contain over 10% carbon

28
Q

Why does the sequestration of biological carbon take long in mangroves

A

sequestration of biological carbon takes long in mangroves as they are submerged twice a day in tidal water and decomposers are aerobic and need oxygen so it takes long to break down matter

29
Q

How does cooler weather impact atmospheric carbon levels

A

cooler weather impacts atmospheric carbon levels as there will be less photosynthesis occurring and so less CO2 absorption from plants.

30
Q

What does soil carbon storage depend on

A

soil carbon storage depends on the size of the store in different biomes, the total input by plant litter and animal waste and the total output by decomposition, erosion and plant uptake.

31
Q

How are wildfires started

A

Wildfires are started by camp fires, arsonists and maybe people dropping cigarette ends

32
Q

How did Greece’s 2018 wildfire begin

A

Greece’s 2018 wildfire began by low winter rainfall leaving soils dry and then a summer heatwave and drought and strong winds meant fires spread rapidly

33
Q

What was the death toll of Greece’s 2018 wildfire

A

the death toll of Greece’s 2018 wildfire was over 70 people

34
Q

What are the primary impacts of wildfires

A

the primary impacts of wildfires are toxic gases released which affects air quality and health and also soils may be harmed causing damaged structures and nutrient contents

35
Q

What are the secondary impacts of wildfires

A

the secondary impacts of wildfires are lost jobs and incomes if crops and timbers are destroyed and there can be a flood risk due to lack of vegetation to absorb water and lack of vegetation also encourages soil erosion

36
Q

How is higher atmospheric carbon levels influencing European climates

A

higher atmospheric carbon levels are influencing European climates as Eastern and Northern Europe are scored to see warmer winter whereas Southern Europe is expected to see warmer summers, also Northern Europe is expected to see an increase in precipitation whereas Southern Europe is expected to see less precipitation

37
Q

How is higher atmospheric carbon levels influencing polar regions (albedo effect)

A

higher atmospheric carbon levels are influencing polar regions as temperature increases and so ice melts - reducing the albedo effect so more solar radiation is absorbed

38
Q

How is higher atmospheric carbon levels influencing polar regions (permafrost)

A

higher atmospheric carbon levels are influencing polar regions by increasing temperatures causing permafrost to thaw and release CO2 and methane which encourages the greenhouse effect even more - positive feedback

39
Q

What is arctic amplification (rate)

A

arctic amplification is the rapid rate at which the arctic is warming

40
Q

How does deforestation cause increased carbon levels

A

Deforestation causes increased carbon levels as there is less absorption of CO2 as there’s less photosynthesis and also the amount of carbon in biomass decomposed releases CO2

41
Q

What is being grown in deforested areas

A

Palm oil is being grown in deforested areas

42
Q

What has the UNs data shown about increased in forested land

A

The UNs data has shown that it is only the HICs which are seeing an increase in forested land

43
Q

How many hectares of forest were gained between 2010 and 2015

A

3.3 million hectares of forest were gained between 2010 and 2015

44
Q

How has palm oil production impacted local communities and how many conflicts has this led to

A

Palm oil production has impacted local communities as they’ve had to migrate as they’ve lost their resources and income and also this has led to 700 conflicts over land in 2016 between palm oil industry and other land users

45
Q

How much methane does cattle in the USA emit

A

Cattle in the USA emit around 5.5 million tonnes of methane a year - which is 20% of the USAs total methane emissions

46
Q

How did hydrospheric carbon storage cause the Oyster Crisis of 2007

A

hydrospheric carbon storage caused the Oyster Crisis of 2007 by absorbed increasing carbon dioxide and forming carbonic acid in oceans which killed oyster larvae resulting in millions of dollars lost in sales

47
Q

What was the Paris Agreement of 2015

A

The Paris Agreement of 2015 was a meeting of 196 global parties

48
Q

Why was the purpose of the Paris Agreement of 2015

A

the purpose of the Paris Agreement of 2015 was to discuss how to adapt to climate change and set a goal to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees centigrade.

49
Q

When was the Kyoto protocol

A

The Kyoto protocol was 1997

50
Q

What was Kyoto protocol

A

Kyoto protocol was an agreement between 191 countries to reduce emissions by 5.2% below 1990 levels by 2007.

51
Q

How did the Kyoto protocol fail

A

The Kyoto protocol failed because global emissions rose 38% between 1992 and 2007

52
Q

How was the Kyoto protocol too complex

A

The Kyoto protocol was too complex because emission reduction targets were country-specific and it could not take into effect until 90 days after 55 countries ratified it and these countries had to represent 55% global emissions for 1990

53
Q

How is the UN helping South Sudan in climate change

A

The UN is helping South Sudan in climate change by a $35 million project to strengthen adaptation by promoting varied sources of income, promoting natural resource-based enterprises like beekeeping and introducing climate resilient seeds and tree species for agricultural progress

54
Q

How is UN environmental programme mitigating effects of climate change on global scale

A

UN environmental programme has set up 70 projects in 50 countries aiming to help 2.5 million people by setting up 82 weather stations, 1,100 water harvesting structures and restoring over 100,000 hectares of land

55
Q

How is Canada helping mitigate impacts of climate change

A

Canada is helping mitigate impacts of climate change as in 2014 set up worlds first commercial carbon capture coal-fired power plant to cut CO2 emissions by 90% by trapping it underground

56
Q

How is Brazil helping mitigate impacts of climate change

A

Brazil is helping mitigate impacts of climate change by deciding to slash rate of deforestation by 80% in 2005, making landowners protect 80% virgin forests and if not they face large fines or imprisonment

57
Q

How has Brazil successfully mitigated impacts of climate change

A

Brazil has successfully mitigated impacts of climate change as they reduced deforestation by 70% and have reduced their carbon emissions more than any other country in the world

58
Q

How much carbon does Amazon hold

A

Amazon holds 17% of the global terrestrial vegetation carbon stock

59
Q

How much carbon does dead Amazonian trees emit

A

dead Amazonian trees emit 1.9 billion tonnes of carbon in the air every year

60
Q

How is the Amazon a carbon sink

A

Amazon is a carbon sink as it absorbs more carbon than it releases

61
Q

How much of Amazon will be without tress in 2030

A

WWF says 27% of Amazon will be without trees by 2030 if current trends maintain

62
Q

Why is deforestation occurring in the Amazon

A

deforestation is occurring in the Amazon for pasture land for cattle grazing, road building, logging, mineral extraction, 150 new dam constructions for hydroelectric power and also for population growth which is evident by Brazil Amazon population increasing 23% from 2000 to 2010

63
Q

How does deforestation/climate change cause positive feedback loop in wildfires

A

deforestation cause positive feedback loop in wildfires as increased deforestation/climate change causes soils/environment to become drier, so more wildfires, and fires cause increased atmospheric aerosol loads leading to decreased droplet size, increased cloud height, so droughts and dryness particularly in dry seasons

64
Q

how does Amazon deforestation impact carbon cycle

A

Amazon deforestation impacts carbon cycle as less tree roots means rain can wash carbon-rich top-layer of soil into hydrosphere, and also less leaf litter so less humus so soil cannot support new growth so less carbon absorbed

65
Q

how does Amazon deforestation impact water cycle

A

Amazon deforestation impacts water cycle as evapotranspiration decreases, so less water vapour and less cloud formation so less rainfall and more droughts and no tree canopy means soil compaction when rainwater directly strikes ground so more surface saturation and incrased run-off

66
Q

what are the carbon cycle transfers

A

carbon cycle transfers are photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, combustion, compaction, carbon sequestration, weathering and ocean uptake/loss

AQA A-Level Physical Geography (6 decks)

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