carbon cycle Flashcards

(44 cards)

1
Q

what is the carbon cycle

A

the continous movement of carbon around the 5 stores

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

where is the biggest store of carbon

A

the lithosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

why is the lithosphere the best store

A

because carbon is hard to escape and can be stored for the longest

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what is carbon sequestration

A

the capture and storage of carbon from the atmosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

CCS

A

carbon capture and storage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

what does ccs attempt to do

A

capture 90% of CO2 from the atmosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what is the trillion tree project

A

a pla nt oplant 1 trillion treets by 2050

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what is wrong with the 1 trillion tree project

A

only 2% has been completed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what is geologic sequestration

A

the storage of carbon in the lithosphere in the form of rocks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what is a carbon sink

A

something that traps more carbon than it releases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what is a carbon flux

A

the exchange of carbon between the 5 sources

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what is terrestrial sequestration

A

the capture and storage of carbon in plants and trees

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

how is carbon stored in the lithosphere

A

it is turned into a liquid through industrial processes and injected into underwater stores

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what are the advantages of geologic sequestration

A

stores a long time and hard to escape

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what is ocean acidifcation

A

when the oceans PH levels become more saline/ less alkaline. since 1750 oceans have had a 30% change in acidity.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what is a net carbon sink

A

when more carbon enters a store than leaves it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what is the carbon budget

A

the total level of carbon allowed to be releases into the atmosphere over a specific time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

what is the keeling curve

A

a curve which shows how carbon particles have changed overtime.

19
Q

what are current carbon PPM measures

20
Q

what were co2 levels like 500 million years ago

21
Q

where is carbon stored in the lithosphere

A

stored inorganically or organically
organic= coal, oil, gas
inorganic=peat,litter,humus

22
Q

where is carbon stored in the hydrosphere

A

-surface layer
-intermediate
-deep layer
-organisms

23
Q

where is carbon stored in the biosphere

A

in organisms and vegetation

24
Q

what is the IPCC

A

intergovemental panel on climate change

25
what will happen when global temps surpass 2 degrees
positive feedback loops
26
what is ocean sequestration
the storage of water in the oceans by dissolving it, organisms such has phytoplankton synthesize and trap the carbon
27
what impact are raising co2 levels having on the land
-higher temps lead to more fires and droughts -more photosynthesis -permafrost feedback loops
28
impact on atmosphere of co2 levels
20% of c02 may remain in the atmosphere for thousands of years, increased greenhouse gases have absorbed more energy from the sun
29
why are greenhouse gases good
without them the earth would be frozen
30
why are greenhouse gases bad
they trap heat
31
what is the enhanced greenhouse effect
where extra co2 in the atmosphere has caused radiative forcing
32
what is radiative forcing
the difference between isolation absorbed by the earth and energy radiated back to space
33
what is insolation
the energy from the sun
34
what is insulation
how much heat is trapped in the earth
35
example of a carbon sink
trees
36
how much of earths surfaces do fires burn ever yeyar
3-4million km2
37
how much co2 do burning trees release each year
billions
38
what % of the atmosphere does co2 take up
0.04%
39
what was atmospheric co2 ppm in 1958 compared to now
318 and now 413
40
what is combustion
the release of co2 from burning
41
what is photosynthesis
the process of vegetation turning co2 into oxygen
42
how has carbon changed over time
in cambrian times levels were above 4000 ppm, before industrialisation levels had never surpassed 300, but are now 413
43
humans factors to changing carbon
-pollution -burning -deforestation -land use change -farming
44
natural factors leading to changing carbon
-wildfires -volcanos