Movement Of Carbon Flashcards
(16 cards)
Step one of carbon cycle
Atmosphere CO2+H2O- carbonic acid
Carbonic acid falls as rain
Interacts and erodes rocks
Step two of the carbon
Component ions get carried in streams
Microorganisms (mollusks) die and sketeltons sink and collect as sediment
Component ions settle on ocean floor as minerals like calcite
Step three carbon cycle
Burial process eventually turns to limestone- sequestration
Uplift by tectonic activity
Step four of carbon cycle
Limestone deposits flushed down , heat and up melt, causing them to rise as volcanoes
Releases carbon monoxide into atmosphere
Movement of carbon
If more carbon enters than leaves, store is considered net carbon sink
If more carbon leaves than enters its a net carbon source
Photosynthesis
Absorbed light converts CO2 to glucose
Glucose used for respiration, rest converted to starch
Respiration
Glucose converted to energy, CO2 released
Carbohydrates remain in the plants as biomass
Decomposition
The break down of simple organic molecules
Facilitated by enzymes released by decomposition microbes
Types of decomposition
In the presence of oxygen- decomposing plants release CO2
No oxygen- methane
Vegetation store of sand dunes
As dune succession progresses, amount of vegetation increases
Amount of carbon in dunes is higher at climax
Plant litter store dunes
Increase dues to increased vegetation
More plants means more material dropped
Soil/organic carbon store
Increased litter provides more organic matter for Decomposers
Increasing carbon in soil
Combustion
When materials are burned with oxygen, co2 is released to the atmosphere
Burial and compaction
Organic matter burned by sediments and becomes compacted
Over millions of years form hydrocarbons
Shells of creatures release co2 when decomposed
Carbon sequestration
Transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to plants, soils, rocks
Weathering
Breakdown or decay of rocks in their original place
Co2 absorbed by rain helps erode rocks
