Major Carbon Stores

Question 1

Sedimentary rocks

Answer 1

• 60,000-100,000,000 billion tonnes

- 150,million years

Question 2

Oceans (surface / deep)

Answer 2

• 700 billion tonnes / 38,000 billion tonnes

- 25 years residence time / 1,250 years residence time

Question 3

Sea floor sediments

Answer 3

6,000 billion tonnes

Question 4

Fossil fuels

Answer 4

• 4,130 billion tonnes

- 150 million years residence time

Question 5

Soils/peat

Answer 5

2,300 billion tonnes

Question 6

Atmosphere

Answer 6

• 600 billion tonnes

- 6 years residence time

Question 7

Terrestrial biomass/Land plants

Answer 7

• 560 billion tonnes

- 18 years residence time

Question 8

Long term storage (e.g. sedimentary rocks) holds…

Answer 8

…99.9% of all carbon

Question 9

The carbon in circulation (e.g. atmosphere, plants, soils)…

Answer 9

…moves rapidly between the atmosphere, oceans, soils and the biosphere

Question 10

Between stores, the pathways followed by carbon include…

Answer 10

…photosynthesis, oxidation (decomposition and combustion) and weathering