Natural Factors - Carbon Cycle Flashcards
Name 3 natural factors leading to a change in carbon cycle?
Wildfires
Volcanoes
Eccentricity
How does volcanoes emit carbon dioxide?
The magma composed of carbon dioxide, water vapour, sulphur dioxide.
This gas / temp and viscosity of mama cause volcanic eruptions.
When volcanoes aren’t erupting co2 also releases into atmosphere through soil/ vents / fumaroles.
Why has volcanic activity contributed so little?
The sulphur dioxide is converted to sulphuric acid forming droplets which reflect radiation from sun back to space - cool earths atmosphere.
How much carbon dioxide do volcanoes emit?
130-180 million tonnes annually.
Less than 1% of the co2 released currently by humans.
What is the transfer of carbon dioxide in volcanoes?
Lithosphere to atmosphere.
Fast cycling.
During the paleozoic era , volcanoes much more active than they were today, what did this mean ?
Co2 emitted into atmosphere a lot more and it remained here longer.
How much co2 do humans release?
30 billion tonnes as a result of fossil fuel burning.
Example of slow cycling in volcanic eruptions?
Lava contains silicates that slowly weather.
This converts carbon dioxide in air to carbonates in solution.
Co2 absorbed slowly from atmosphere.
What type of cycling is wildfires?
Fast.
Why are forests so important?
Natural carbon sink.
Photosynthesis trees absorb co2.
What happens when forest is burnt?
Carbon releases back into atmosphere as co2.
Biosphere to atmosphere.
Less photosynthesis so less Co2 removed from atmosphere.
Why are wildfires good?
Long term provide new growth and rejuvenation.
New nutrients and sapling.
What does new vegetation do ?
Reabsorbs much of the co2 that fire releases.
Nights balance and negotiable feedback loop.
What is good about new trees?
Take up more co2 as they grow but live shorter?
When do wildfires become a threat?
When humans increase frequency and magnitude of fires.
Threatens negative feedback loop.
