carbon cycle Flashcards by Saffron Kumar

name where the 3 main stores of carbon are

lithosphere

hydrosphere

pedosphere (soil)

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name 2 uses of carbon as an economic resource

contained in fossil fuels
which are used as raw materials

used as fertiliser

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what is the main importance of carbon globally

contributes to greenhouse effect

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what is the carbon budget

balance between stores and sinks

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what are the 3 main stores of carbon

marine and sedimentary rocks (69%)

oceans

fossil fuel deposits

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where is carbon stored in each of the following

lithosphere

hydrosphere

biosphere

atmosphere

lith- sedimentary rock deposits

hydrosphere- surface layer of oceans

biosphere- organic matter in soils and living/ dead organisms

atmosphere- co2 in atmosphere

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what is a flux

change in amount of carbon held in a store

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describe the main steps in the slow carbon cycle

atmospheric co2 absorbed by oceans

co2 used by marine organisms to form shells

organisms die and sink to sea floor which forms sedimentary rock

tectonics subduct limestone into mantle and carbon is released in volcanoes

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how long is carbon usually held in sedimentary rock

150 million years

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describe the main steps in the fast carbon cycle

photosynthesis absorbs co2

respiration from plants and decomposition returns co2 back into atmosphere

carbon exchange occurs between atmosphere and oceans also

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name the 3 main factors that have an effect on carbon stores

distribution of land and sea

distribution of fossil fuels

latitude and climate- determine characteristics of ecosystem

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name 2 examples of how carbon is stored in the biosphere

living vegetation

peat

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what is gross primary production

amount of carbon primary produced produce each year

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what is carbon sequestration

describes the transfer of carbon from atmosphere to other stores

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what are the 2 most important processes in the fast carbon cycle

photosynthesis and respiration

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what is the average flux of carbon from photosynthesis each year

120 gigatones

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what is biosynthesis

production of a new carbon compound by a living organism

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what is net primary productivity

difference between amt of carbon taken in by photosynthesis and amount released by respiration

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what happens to atmospheric co2 with rainwater

it dissolves it

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what type of weathering releases carbon

carbonation

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what is the physical ocean pump

mixing of surface and deep ocean waters

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what is downwelling and what is it caused by

cold water is denser then warm water causing it to sink

co2 absorbed at surface is transported to deep waters by convection causing it to be stored in lower layers of ocean

what is upwelling and what is it caused by

deep ocean currents transport co2 to surface

co2 diffuses out to atmosphere

how does the biological pump work

microorganisms move carbon from atmosphere to deep ocean

phytoplankton near surface produce organic material by using dissolved co2

carbon in phytoplankton accumulates in sediments on sea floor

other organisms extract carbon from sea water to produce shells

decay releases c02 into deep water which gets trapped in sedimentary rocks for millions of years

what influence does volcanic activity have on the carbon cycle

returns carbon to atmosphere that has been trapped in sedimentary rock for millions of years

how do low latitudes influence carbon

due to increase in temp there is increased rates of photosynthesis and respiration so more movement from atmosphere to biosphere faster rates of decomposition faster carbon cycle overall

how do high latitudes influence carbon

decreased photosynthesis and respiration biosphere store goes to atmospheric and then into pedosphere slower rate if decomposition permafrost holds an extremely high amount of carbon slower cycle overall

how does liquid availability affect processes and stores

more water more precipitation so more photosynthesis more decomposition more decomposition more chemical weathering - lithosphere to hydro and atmosph faster carbon cycle

short term factors what 2 diurnal changes affect carbon what 2 seasonal changes affect carbon

day- more photosynthesis so more transfer from atmosphere to biosphere night- no photosynthesis but respiration so biosphere to atmosphere and pedosphere summer- increase in carbon stores in biosphere winter- more respiration and decomposition

long term factors what are the main climate change factors that affect the carbon cycle

glacial - reduced temps inter-glacial increased temps volcanic activity

what are the main impacts of glacial on carbon cycle

less co2 in atmosphere more carbon stored in deep ocean

what percentage of carbon release is land use change responsible for globally

10%

what type of change does land use stores mainly affect

short term

what cycle does urbanisation have an affect on

local carbon cycle

why does urbanisation have an affect on land use stores

important stores are removed or covered up

what impact does the clearance of forest for farming have on carbon

reduces storage so reduces biosphere store

what is ploughing and how does it affect carbon

turning over of soil exposes organic matter to oxidation causing it to decompose reducing pedosphere store

what is the main source of carbon emissions on farms

artificial fertilisers as it increases atmospheric stores

what impact does livestock have on carbon stores

release methane

how much global methane production does rice contribute to

20%

what impact does forestry have on carbon stores

increases biosphere carbon stores as trees sequester the carbon

what is the downside to forest trees

they only are an active carbon sink for 100 years

how much carbon dioxide emissions does deforestation account for

20%

what s the impact of fossil fuels on the carbon cycle

increase atmospheric store which enhances greenhouse effect

how much tonnes of co2 is due to fossil fuels each year

10 billion

what is carbon capture and storage

attempt to reduce global carbon emissions by capturing carbon and storing it deep underground

what is an example of a carbon capture scheme

boundary dam in canada

what state is the global carbon cycle currently in

disequilibrium due to anthropogenic activity

what is an example of a long term negative feedback carbon cycle

carbon fertilisation

how does carbon fertilisation work

stimulates photosynthesis and stores carbon in biosphere

explain the negative feedback loop of weathering

warmer temps more precipitation increase in chemical weathering more carbon for marine organisms to build shells organisms die and sink to floor increasing burial

what is an example of a short term positive feedback loop for carbon

increase in global temps

explain the short term positive feedback loop for increase in global temps

increase in global temps increase in oceanic temp warm water holds less co2 less co2 dissolved in oceans more co2 being released from ocean to atmosphere so more co2 in atmosphere