Carbon Flashcards
(19 cards)
Local scale
What are transfers in the carbon cycle?
Act to drive and cause changes in the cycle.
All have impacts of varying magnitude over different lengths of time.
Transfers
How does photosynthesis transfer carbon?
Photosynthesis; living organisms convert carbon dioxide from atmosphere and water from the soil, into oxygen and glucose using light energy. Removing CO2 from atmosphere, plants are sequestering carbon and reducing potential impacts of climate change.
Transfer
How does respiration transfer carbon?
Respiration; when plants and animals convert oxygen and glucose into energy = produces waste products of water and CO2. Plants absorb more CO2 than they emit, so are net carbon dioxide absorbers (from atmosphere) and net oxygen producers (to the atmosphere).
Transfers
How does combustion transfer carbon?
Combustion; when fossil fuels and organic matter (trees) are burnt, they emit CO2 into atmosphere.
Transfer
How does decompostion transfer carbon?
Decompostion: organisms die, broken down and respire, returing CO2 into the atmosphere some is returned to the soil where its stored.
Transfer
How does diffusion transfer carbon?
Oceans can absorb CO2 , increased ocean acidity by 30% since pre-industrial times however it means it harms aquatic life by causing coral bleaching.
Transfer
How does weathering and erosion transfer carbon?
Rocks are eroded on land or broken down by carbonation weathering. Aids erosion of rocks such as limestone. The carbon is moved through the water cycle and enters the oceans. Marine organisms use the carbon in the water to build thier shells.
More CO2 = increase weathering and erosion as a result, potentially affecting other parts of the carbon cycle.
Transfers
How does burial and compaction transfer carbon?
When shelled marine organisms die, shell fragrements fall to ocean floor and become compacted over time to form limestone. Organic matter from vegetation and decaying marine organisms compacted over time to form fossil fuel deposits.
Transfers
How does carbon sequestration transfer carbon?
Can be stored both naturally and artifically. A plant sequesters carbon when it photosynthesies and stores the carbon within its mass. Factories are also starting to use carbon sequestration in the form of Carbon capture and storage. CO2 is captured and transported via pipeline to depleated gas fields and saline aquifers.
Transfers
Advantages of Carbon sequestration
Fitted to existing coal power stations
Captures 90% of CO2 produced
Demand for CO2 so transport via pipline in liquid form aleady exist
Potential to capture half the worlds CO2 emissions
Transfers
Disadvantages of carbon sequestration
High cost in main restriction to the growth of CCS
Increases energy demand of power stations
May not be space to fit it to existing power stations
Economically vialble in some cases as its used to push oil out the ground, increasing fossil fuel usage
Global scale, The Carbon cycle
What is a carbon sink?
Any store which takes in more carbon than it emits (intact tropical rainforest).
Global scale
What is a carbon source?
Any store that emits more carbon than it stores (damaged tropical rainforest)
Main Carbon Stores
Marine Sediments and Sedimentary rocks
Lithosphere- Long term
Biggest store; 66,000-100,000 million billion metric tons of carbon.
Rock cycle and continental drift recycle the rock over time, may take thousands, if not millions of years.
Main carbon stores
Oceans
Hydrosphere- Dynamic
Second biggest store, contains tiny fraction of the carbon of the largest store. 38,000 billion metric tons of carbon. Carbon is being constantly being utilised by marine organisms, lost as an output to the lithosphere or gains as an input from rivers and erosion.
Main carbon store
Fossil fuel deposits
Lithosphere - longterm but currently dynamic
Used to be rarely changing over short periods of time, humans have developed tech to exploit them rapidly, through 4,000 billion metric tons of carbon remain as fossil fuels.
Main carbon stores
Soil organic matter
Lithosphere- mid-term
Soil can store carbon for over 100yrs, but deforistation, agriculture and land use change are affecting this store. 1,500 billion metric tons of carbon stored.
Main carbon store
Atmosphere
Dynamic
Human activty = CO2 levels to increase by approx 40% since industrial rev.
750 billion metric tons of carbon stored.
Main carbon store
Terrestrial plants
Biosphere- mid-term, but very dynamic
Vunerable to climate change and deforistation and as a result carbon storage in forests is declining annually in some areas of the world.
560 billion metric tons of carbon.
