Carbon Cycle

Question 1

What happens to carbon?

Answer 1

Carbon cycle moves from global scale to organism and back

Question 2

Carbon Reservoirs

Answer 2

1. Atmosphere
2. Terrestrial biosphere
3. Oceans
4. Geological

Question 3

Movements of carbon between reservoirs is dependent on..

Answer 3

Chemical
Physical
Geological
Biological

Question 4

1. Atmospheric carbon

Answer 4

-Supplied by Earth
-(naturally) Through respiration of plants and animals, and volcanic eruptions
-(unnaturally) through burning of fossil fuels

Question 5

2. Terrestrial Biosphere

Answer 5

• freshwater, soil, plants, animals
• photosynthesis
• atmosphere or soil
• or react with soil minerals to form inorganic dissolved carbonates

Question 6

3. Oceans

Answer 6

• Primary source of carbon storage within cycle
• Via organisms, plankton photosynthesis
• CO2 absorbed from atmosphere (dissolves in sea water)

Question 7

Ocean acidification

Answer 7

• lowering of pH of seawater
• increases H+ ions concentration in ocean

Question 8

4. Geological

Answer 8

• storing of CO2 underground in rock formation
• can retain large amounts of CO2 over a long time period
• small pore spaces

Question 9

What would happen to the carbon cycle if all decomposes suddenly died and were not replenished?

Answer 9

Carbon would accumulate in organic matter