Lesson 3 - Physical Pump

Question 1

What does the physical pump involve?

Answer 1

Oceanic circulation
Upwelling/Downwelling/Thermohaline

Question 2

How does water temperature affect carbon content?

Answer 2

Colder water, more potential for CO2 to be absorbed

Question 3

How does water temperature affect sequestration?

Answer 3

Warm waters release CO2
Cold waters absorb CO2

Question 4

How does oceanic CO2 concentration vary with depth?

Answer 4

10x higher in deep ocean than surface waters

Question 5

How do ocean currents affect carbon circulation?

Answer 5

Movement of tropical waters to polar regions
Waters cool
Absorb more CO2

Question 6

How does latitude affect carbon concentration?

Answer 6

High latitudes, deep + cold oceans
Sinks due to higher density
Circulates surface CO2 downwards

Question 7

How does the capacity of water to dissolve CO2 vary?

Answer 7

Cold polar waters dissolve roughly 2x as much as tropical waters