Definitions Flashcards
(36 cards)
Carbon
Most important of all elements and is needed by all plants and animals to survive (alone with nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur)
Carbon stores/components
Individual parts of system where carbon is stored/kept
Carbon sink
Store and absorbs more carbon that it releases
Carbon source
Store that releases more carbon than retains
Carbon flows/transfers
Link or movement of carbon from one store to another
Process: changes which drive movement in carbon cycle. They include natural processes - photosynthesis, decomposition
Human activities - burning fossil fuels
Most carbon flows and transfers are also processes
Carbon dioxide
Colourless odourless has made of carbon and oxygen
Greenhouse gas
Elements
Simple substances
Can’t be broken down
Around 100 of them
Decomposition
CO2 released in atmosphere by micro-organisms in soil called decomposers and they break down dead organic matter
Sedimentation
Calcium carbonate in shells of sea creatures fall to sea bed where it is compacted and compressed over millions of years to form rocks such as limestone - long term source
Sequestration
Calcium carbonate in shells of sea creatures fall to sea bed where it is compacted and compressed over millions of years to form rocks such as limestone - long term source
Sequestration
Transfer of all carbon from atmosphere to all stores
Respiration
CO2 releases by living plants and animals
Natural wildfires
Wild fires can be started naturally by lightening
This causes fire among trees
Eccentricity
When earth orbit changes
Takes 10,000 years
Tilt
The tilt of the earth on its axis also varies and the earth wobbles on its axis 22-24 and a half degrees
Takes 14,000 years
Precession
Wobble on earth’s axis- takes 24,000 years
Carbon farming
When 1 type of crop is replaced by another that had greater productivity and can absorb more CO2 from atmosphere
Carbon capture
Technology capture CO2 emissions from coal fired power stations and industry -> transported to a site
Once captured it is compressed and transported by pipe line to an injection well
It is then injected as a liquid into suitable geological reservoirs such as cinderg round aquifers and deposits of fossil
Permafrost
Frozen ground
Water in soil and rock is frozen due to low temps eg Canada
Ice caps
Less than 50,000 km squared
Ice sheets
More than 50,000 km 2
Greenland
Litterfall
Carbon in form of organic matter
Run off
Proportion of total precipitation that makes its way into streams and rivers
Regime
Amount of water in river over year
