Carbon And Energy Security Flashcards
(34 cards)
Carbon can be found in the
Atmosphere as carbon dioxide and other compounds
Hydrosphere as dissolved carbon dioxide
Lithosphere as carbonates like limestone and fossil fuels
Biosphere in living and dead organisms
Cryosphere in permafrost
Geological (slow) Carbon cycle
Focused on huge carbon stores in rocks with reservoir turnover rates of over 100k years
organic matter buried deep in sediments are protected from decay which makes fossil fuels take millions of year to form
Carbon flows through volcanic eruptions, chemical weathering, erosion and sediment formation on the ocean floor.
Bio-geochemical (fast) carbon cycle
Fast part of the carbon cycle has large fluxes with fast reservoir turnover rates.
Carbon is sequestered in and flows between atmosphere, vegetation, oceans, ocean sediments and freshwater.
Geological Processes in the carbon cycle
Weathering of rocks
Decomposition
Transportation - Rivers carrying carbon in particles to oceans where they will be deposited
Sedimentation
Metamorphosis- where sediment changes into rock due to changes in heat and pressure
Chemical weathering
Water reacts with carbon in the atmosphere forming carbonic acid, which reaches the surface as rain, dissolving surface materials and releasing carbon
Volcanic outgassing
The release of previously untouched carbon through volcanic or seismic activity
Happens at volcanic areas associated with subduction zones
This is relatively insignificant compared to human activity as humans release 36gt through fossil fuel use wheras volcanoes emit 0.15-0.26gt carbon
Biological Pump
Water sequestered into ocean through photosynthesis by phytoplankton
organisms die and fall deeper into the ocean
Decay of these organisms releases carbon into the intermediate and deep ocean stores
In short, they move carbon from the surface where it can vent back into the atmosphere and transfer it into the deeper ocean
Physical Pump
Most important transfer
Co2 diffused into ocean surface where downwelling currents takes this deeper (96 gtc carbon a year)
Thermohaline circulation distributes this around the planet
More co2 absorbed towards the poles
Carbonate Pump
Relies on inorganic carbon sedimentation
When organisms start to die and sink, many shells dissolve before they reach the ocean floor entering the deep ocean currents
Carbonates formed through reactions between co2 and water
Organisms use these carbonates to create shells which when they die, contribute to the sea bed sediment store as they sink
Over time the carbon is transformed into rocks which locks up carbon in the long term cycle
Terrestrial sequestration
Carbon being sequestered on land often through plants using photosynthesis to absorb carbon
Biological Carbon
20-30% of global carbon is stored as dead organic matter in soil
Soil Capacity to store organic carbon depends on Climate, soil type and use and management of soil
Importance of a balanced carbon cycle
regulates global temperatures and climate by controlling the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
this affects the hydrological cycle
Natural Greenhouse effect
Incoming radiation known as short wave radiation drives our climate
31% reflected by clouds and gases in the atmosphere and by land surface
69% is absorbed with half of that being absorbed at the surface, other half re-radiated as long-wave radiation however much of it is reflected back by the atmosphere, creating the natural greenhouse effect
How does fossil fuel use impact the carbon cycle
Increased the flow of fossil fuel use from slow to fast carbon cycle
Enhances the greenhouse effect
Implications of fossil fuel use for climate
rising global temperatures and sea levels and changing salinity and wind streams
Implications of fossil fuel use for ecosystems
Puts endangered species at even more risk and threatens higher rates of ocean acidification
Implications of fossil fuel use for Hydrological cycle
Increases evapotranspiration, changes in precipitation type, reduction in cryosphere storage
Energy security
uninterrupted availability of energy sources at affordable prices
Energy Mix
Used to describe the combination of different energy sources used to meet a country’s total demand
Factors affecting access to and consumption of energy
Physical availability - may not be accessible/may have to import
Cost - Cost of extraction, processing and delivery
Technology - Modern Technology is very useful in the exploitation of energy
Public perception - whether it is seen as expensive or not
Level of economic development - affects sensitivity to energy costs
Climate - more energy used to make climate more comfortable
Environmental Priorities
Roles of players in energy
TNCs - half are state owned
OPEC - control 2/3 of world’s oil reserves, can control the amount of gas and oil in global market
energy companies - strong influence over prices and tarriffs
Governments - look after energy security
Consumers
Mismatch Between Supply and Demand
Coal - consumption decreasing while production is increasing. Us and China largest consumers and producers. Small mismatch as main producers are often main consumers
Oil - Significant mismatch as the main suppliers are opec members whereas consumers are in Europe
Gas - USA and Russia produce whilst western Europe and Japan consume
Energy Pathways
Routes that transport energy such as pipelines, transmission lines or shipping routes. Can be causes of geopolitical tension such as the Nord stream in Russia which connects to europe
Unconventional fossil fuel sources
Tar Sands - Mixture of clay sand water and bitumen which is mined and injected with steam, produces 40% Canada’s oil output
Oil Shale - Oil bearing rocks that are permeable, little exploration into it
Shale Gas - Natural gas that is trapped in fine grained sedimentary rocks, Fracking, pumping in water and chemicals forcing gas out, USA leading producer and exporter
Deepwater oil - Drilling on offshore platforms to extract oil, Brazil leading the way
