carbon cycle Flashcards
carbon is..
- found in all life forms
- basic chemical element needed for plants and animals survival
what is the recent concern about carbon
increased carbon being released is causing climate change
five forms of carbon
- CaCO3 (calcium carbonate)
- CH4 (methane)
- CO2 (carbon dioxide)
- hydrocarbons
- bio-molecules (eg:oils/fats in living things)
primary source of carbon
the Earth’s interior
anthropogenic CO2
co2 created by humans
greenhouse gas
any gaseous compound in the atmosphere that is capable of absorbing infrared radiation, thereby trapping and holding heat in the atmosphere
difference between organic and inorganic carbon
Inorganic carbon is carbon extracted from ores and minerals (e.g. carbon dioxide) as opposed to organic carbon found in nature through plants and living things
how carbon is stored in biosphere
- 20% tropical forest (Amazon)
- boreal forests
- agriculture
- wetlands
- desert
- grasslands
carbon sink
a store of carbon that absorbs more than it releases
carbon source
a store of carbon that releases more than it absorbs
how carbon is stored in the lithosphere
- inorganic: fossil fuels: oil, coal, gas, limestone
- organic: litter, organic matter, humid substances
how carbon is stored in the hydrosphere
- when organisms die their dead cells sink into deep water, decay releases this carbon dioxide into the water
- matter that reaches the bottom will form layers of carbon rich sediment which over time will trap carbon
how carbon is stored in atmosphere
- CO2 is released from natural events such as volcanic eruptions or wildfire. And by humans burning fossil fuels
what type of system is the carbon cycle
closed: inputs and outputs of energy but the amount of carbon stays the same
fluxes
measurements of the rate of flow of material between stores
how much of anthropogenic carbon release is absorbed by oceans and plants?
oceans - 24%
plants - 26%
90% of anthropogenic carbon releases comes from…
burning fossil fuels
