paper 1- carbon Flashcards
(92 cards)
1
Q
What is organic carbon
A
Form found in living organisms such as plants and trees
2
Q
What is inorganic carbon
A
Carbon extracted from ores and minerals
3
Q
What is anthropogenic co2
A
Carbon dioxide generated by human activity
4
Q
What happens in a simple carbon cycle
A
Sunlight releases c02 which plants take in for photoysynthesis. Plant may die and decay- atmosphere. Or be eated by an animal which takes in the co2, animals release to atmosphere by respiration, they eventually die and waste/bones get buried in the rock. Those fossil fuels then get burnt for energy and co2 emitted.
5
Q
What is the primary store of carbon on the earth and how it can release carbon
A
In the earths mantle- it escapes by constructive and destructive plate margins
Much released at destructive plate margins from metamorphism
6
Q
What are different carbon compounds and where are they found
A
CO2- atmosphere, soils and oceans
CH4 (methane)- atmosphere, soils and sedimentary rocks
CaCO3 (calcium carbonate)- calcareous rocks, oceans, skeletons, shells
Hydrocarbons- solids, liquids, gasses- sedimentary rocks
Bio-molecules- living things- proteins, carbs, fat, oil and DNA
7
Q
What is the fast/short term carbon cycle and processes
A
Moves carbon much faster, instead of millions of years it happens over years. The increased speed is because the fast carbon cycle moves carbon through living things. Moves 1000x more carbon per year than a slow.
Photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition
8
Q
What is the slow/long term carbon cycle and processes
A
Moves carbon between the atmosphere, lithosphere and oceans. 10-10m tonnes of carbon per year and takes 100-200m years for carbon to move through. Carbon is removed into long term storage by burial of sedimentary rock layers e.g. coal
Compression, burial, volcanic eruptions
9
Q
What do the different flows of carbon move through
A
Photosynthesis
Respiration
Combustion
Decomposition
Diffusion
Weathering and erosion
Burial and compaction
Carbon sequestration
10
Q
Flows of carbon between the atmosphere and lithosphere
A
Combustion- burning of FF
Erupting volcano
11
Q
Flows of carbon between the atmosphere and biosphere
A
Combustion- wildfires
Respiration
Photosynthesis
12
Q
Flows of carbon between the atmosphere and hydrosphere
A
Diffusion
13
Q
Flows of carbon between the lithosphere and hydrosphere
A
Erosion/weathering
14
Q
Flows of carbon between the lithosphere and biosphere
A
Sequestration
Decomposition
15
Q
Flows of carbon between the hydrosphere and biosphere
A
Crustations take carbon to build shells
Marine plant take in co2- phytoplankton
16
Q
What are the measures of carbon
A
Giggatone (GTG)
Gigatonne per year (CTCy-1)
17
Q
What is carbon stored as in the lithosphere
A
Stored in both organic and inorganic forms
Inorganic- fossil fuels- coal, oil, gas- 4100 GTG
Organic- litter, organic matter and humus in soil- 1500-1600 GTG
Stored in: mantle, marine sediments and rocks- 100m GTG
Peat- 250GTG
18
Q
What is carbon stored as in the hydrosphere
A
Oceanic stores:
Surface layer: sunlight penetrates so photosynthesis can take place- 900GTG
Intermediate layer: deep layer of water- 37100 GTG
Living organic matter and dissolved organic matter
Oceanic carbon in total is 40 000 GTG
19
Q
How does carbon get into the intermediate layer of oceans with no sunlight
A
When organisms die their dead cells, shells and other parts sink into deep water. Decay releases co2 into deep water and form layers of carbon rich sediment.
Over millions of years chemical and physical processes turn these sediments into rocks
20
Q
What is atmospheric carbon like
A
Very high millions of years ago and the lowest concentration has been the past 2 millions years suggesting It changes over time. Makes up 0.04% the earths atmosphere.
21
Q
Where is atmospheric carbon measured and why
A
Mauna Loa observatory as the air is undisturbed and in a remote location and limited influence from vegetation and human activity
22
Q
Why has atmospheric increased over the past 60 years
A
Increased 100ppm
Due to human activity such as deforestation farming and burning of fossil fuels
23
Q
Where is carbon stored in the biosphere
A
In the tropics due to high biodiversity and nutrient rich soils containing carbon. Lots of farming can take place which increases co2.
24
Q
What is the net carbon sink and net carbon source
A
If more carbon enters a store than leaves this is known as the net carbon sink. If more carbon leaves it then it’s known as a net carbon source.
25
Explanation of how the different types of rock are formed.
Sedimentary rocks are formed by different rocks in the ocean due to erosion/weathering and being compacted and buried over a long period of time. This can form into metamorphic rock due to the burial of rock leading to high pressures and high temperatures so the layers distort/melt together. Igneous rocks are formed by the high temperatures and melting of rock to produce magma and also magma from molten crust and mantle which cools and hardens to form igneous rocks.
26
The movement of carbon- factors driving change in magnitude of stores over time- lithosphere
1. In water, carbon is removed from the atmosphere by dissolving to form carbonic acid. As this acidic water reaches the surface as rain it reacts with minerals on earths surface, dissolving their component ions through weathering.
2.these component ions are carried in rivers and get back to oceans where they settle as minerals e.g. calcite, a form of calcium carbonate.
3. Coral and other shell builders extract this from water and they eventually die, build up on ocean floor and become buried and stored in layers of limestone
4. Tectonic forces cause plate movement to push the sea floor under continental Margins- subduction and the carbon sea floor is pushed deep into ground and melt.
5. Molten rock rises back to surface through volcanic eruptions or hot springs and returns back to atmosphere.
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Where is carbon stored in the terrestrial biosphere
Living vegetation
Plant litter
Soil humus
Peat
Animals
soil is the largest store, animals is the smallest
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the movement of carbon- atmospheric factors driving change in magnitude over time
photosynthesis
respiration
decomposition
combustion
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the movement of carbon- hydrological factors driving change in magnitude over time
oceanic carbon pump:
physical (inorganic) pump
biological (ORGANIC) PUMP
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what are the two types of carbon sequestration in the ocean
physical (inorganic) pump
biological (organic) pump
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Physical INorganic pump
Involved in mixing of surface and deep oceans by vertical currents creating a more even distribution of carbon.
Initially co2 enters oceans from difussion
Water and so the carbon move from low latitude to high latitude where cold water sinks (down welling) this takes co2 to the depths of the ocean and moves back to high latitude where warm water rises (upwelling) so moves co2 to the surface
The cold carbon rich water rises to surface and diffuses back to atmosphere
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Biological organic pump
Living things in the ocean move carbon from the atmosphere into the surface water and then down into deeper oceans, and eventually into rocks:
Carbon is incorporated into marine organisms by photosynthesis or shell builders, when the organisms die structural carbon e.g. shells sink to the bottom. The material lies on the floor as carbon rich sediment and over millions if years sediment will be buried to lock the carbon away where layers build p.
33
Changes in carbon over time
Carbon has been fluctuationing for hundreds and thousands of years and higher concentration of co2 is associated with higher temps, in theory co2 triggers temp change however temp change also has an impact on co2. Nowadays co2 has exceeded 400 ppm due to industrialisation
34
Impacts of cold conditions on carbon stores and transfers
-chemical weathering process more active- cold water can hold more co2
-forest coverage would be very different and effects photosynthesis and respiration.
-decomposes less effective so carbon transfer reduced
-less water flowed in oceans as carbon locked up as ice and so less build up on ocean floor
-soil frozen
35
Impact of warm conditions on carbon stores and transfers
Melting of permafrost in tundra regions has released carbon stored. Together with other gasses such as methane is now being released into atmosphere which enhances greenhouse effect- positive feedback loop
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Physical factors that are responsible for changed in carbon over time and scale
Wildfires- can be started naturally e.g. lightening strikes however increasingly started deliberately by people. Wildfires can turn forests from being a carbon sink into a carbon source as combustion emits to atmosphere. Plant re growth takes up emmoitted co2, carbon neural fire-re growth cycles and also produces charcoal.
Scale- despite restricted to small land they can have regional impacts. Release of carbon is instant but re growth may take hundreds of years.
Volcanic activity- carbon released in recent eruptions has not detected global warming because co2 emitted is very little to humans and historic eruptions may have released more. Co2 counteracted by sulfur dioxide.
Scale- nearly global- short cooling effect of planets past. Not large temporal scale- humans contribute
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Human factors that effect changes in carbon over time
Hydrocarbon extraction and combustion
Farming practices
Deforestation and urbanisation (land use changes)
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How hydrocarbon extraction and combustion effect changes in carbon over time
Most of worlds gas and oil is extracted from rocks 70-100 m years old where it was previously buried
Carbon has been locked in these rocks for all thus time when burned fir energy and power it is released instantly and primarily as co2 in the atmosphere, increasing cycling of carbon.
90% of anthropogenic emissions
There’s an uneven distribution around the world- more in china and little in S America
39
How farming practices have lead to changed in carbon over time
-fertiliser has become more common and is one of the main source of carbon emissions
-1/3 methane comes from cows which is human induced
Rice yeilds increased by 25% which has resulted in 40% increase in carbon and is now one of the most widely consumed foods
Temporal- as pop growing more food is required so a higher yeild and increase in technology
Spactially concentrated in Asia with global impacts
40
what land use changes have caused changes in carbon over time
deforestation, urbanisation
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how deforestation has caused changes in carbon over time (land use changes)
20% anual global GHG emissions
driven by the need for agricultural land- subsistence farmers use slash and burn techniques- clear land.
other reasons-logging, urban, roads
351 MHA trees lost 2001-2018 which released 98.7 GTG of carbon per year.
when cleared, land is used for other reasons such as agriculture so the area becomes a carbon source instead of a carbon sink
scale- widespread across the world but concentrated in tropic regions e.g. indonesia
when a tree dies it decomposes and releases carbon over years whilst when they are burnt carbon is released immedietely
42
how urbanisation has caused changes in carbon over time (land use changes)
new infrastructure and buildings needing to be build
impact on local carbon cycle- stores such as vegetation and soil are covered with impermeable surfaces
source of emissions- transport, industry, cement production by burning of fossil fuels for energy. scale- globally urban areas only occupy 2% of land but account for 97% anthropogenic co2 emissions 50% from chemical processes (cement- calcium carbonate) and 40% from fuel burning
900kg of co2 for every 1000kg of cement produced
43
how significant the cement industry is on the carbon cycle
cement and concrete industrys emissions have doubled in 20 years.
E totalled 2.6b metric tonnes in 2021 up from 1.2b in 2002.
7% global anual emissions in 2021 and didnt drop during 2019 lockdown.
sharpest expansion in china- half global production. others: US,india,vietnam,turkey
- carbon capture use and storage estimates to be able to adress 36% of co2 emissions in 2050- essential to improve climate impact
44
what is carbon budget
includes how much carbon is emitted by various processes (e.g. combusting) compared to what can be absorbed by nature and captured by people.
45
carbon fertilisation (carbon budget)
plants on land have taken up approx 25% of co2 humans produce and plants have overall increased amounts of co2 they absorb since 1960, only some of this increase occured as a direct result of fossil fuel emissions.
46
how changing carbon budget creates a positive feedback loop
global temps increase due to human activity, more cattails growing in and around freshwater lakes, debris from the cattail falls into the freshwater lakes when they die, microbes in the sediment at the bottom of the lakes consume organic matter, decomposition releases methane into the atmosphere from lakes, more heat is trapped, so global temps increase
47
impact of changing carbon budget on oceans- factors
ocean acidification, ocean warming, melting sea ice, ocean salinity, sea level rise
48
ocean acidification impact of changing carbon budget on oceans
-bad for marine organisms- coral bleaching due to stressed coral so algae leaves.
makes shells thinner and fragile.
lead to a benefit in the long term as the acidic seawater will increase the oceans capacity to absorb co2
as co2 dissolves into the ocean it creates carbonic acid and increases acidity.
49
ocean warming (impact of changing carbon budget on oceans)
-causes coral to be stressed- coral breaching
-phytoplankton grow better in cooler, nutrient rich water so an inc in temps decreases phytoplankton whcih reduces carbon held in oceans, decrease of 20% phytoplankton
less of this means ocean ability to absorb carbon through the biological carbon pump is reduced and lessen the effectiveness of the ocean as a carbon sinl
50
melting sea ice (impact of changing carbon budget on oceans)
arctic sea ice has melted by around 12.8% per decade
positive feedback loop: warmer temps lead to more melting of sea ice therefore have a lower albedo of the surfaces so leading to warmer temps
sea ice also provides a unique habitat for algae and loss of this effects fish, seals, polar bears
51
ocean salinity (impact of changing carbon budget on oceans)
a decrease in salinity will disrupt currents
as ocean current moves northwards, it cools and increases salt content, saltier, colder, dense water drops deep into ocean, rises to the surface near the equator, heat from sun warms and evaporation leaves water saltier, travels up US east coast and warms up western europe
52
sea level rise (impact of changing carbon budget on oceans)
sea level has risen by a rate of 3.1mm/year since the early 1990
rises due to- melting of ice, thermal expansion
of earth continues to warm sea levels rise 0.6-2.5 m by 2100
places such as bangladesh, thailand and vietnam are at most risk with flooding even if only 1m sea level rise
53
enhanced greenhouse effect vs natural greenhouse effect (impact of changing carbon budget on oceans)
natural- suns insolation in the atmosphere- most escapes back to space and less heat enters the atmosphere- fewer GHG here.
enhanced- suns insolation- due to more anthropogenic GHG emmissions there is a thicker layer and less can escape/reflect back to space so therefore more heat reemitted into atmosphere- more GHG- global warming
54
what is radioactive forcing ((impact of changing carbon budget on oceans)
the difference between the incoming solar energy absored by the earth and the going out energy radiated back to space
when there us more radiation entering than leaving- earth warms up
55
how many GHG does co2 account for
20%
56
how many GHG does water vapour account for
50%
57
different positive feedback loops for global temp rise(impact of changing carbon budget on oceans)
global temp rise- warming tundra emmits trapped co2 and cH4 so more GHG trapped- global temp rise
temp rise- warmer ocean temps- more water evaporating from ocean surface-more water vapour in atmosphere
temp rise- warmer ocean temps- warm water less able to dissolve co2- dissolved co2 released by warmer oceans- GHG
58
examples of relationships between the water cycle and carbon cycle in the atmosphere
carbonation weathering of limestone
carbon in rivers
carbon sediments and dissolved carbon in oceans
more evaporation of dissolved carbon and so more condensation and precipitation- carbon dioxide dissolved in rainwater becomes carbonic acid
carbon doxide and water vapour released from industry, trees, deforestation, respiration ect
volcanic eruptions- co2
59
negative feedback loop of carbon and water cycle joint
marine phytoplankton release a chemical substance called dimethylsulphide (DMS) that way promote formation of clouds over the oceans. increases in phytoplankton populations assosiated with warmer temps could lead to an increase of cloud formation and thus increase global cooling, this in turn would reduce phytoplankton creating negative feedback loop.
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strategies to mitigate climate change
carbon capture and storage
afforestation
policies to reduce deforestation
farming practicies
international agreements
61
what is carbon capture and storage and example and scale of impact- mitigation CC
is a technology that can capture up to 90% of the carbon dioxide emmisions produced in electricity generation and industrial processes from FF. prevents CO2 from entering the atmosphere. captured, compressed, transported, converted to liquid and located several km below surface
example- boundary dam canada- aims to cut carbon co2 emmisions by 90%, over 5b tonnes captured
not a large spatialscale due to large costs- 800m only HIC going to be able to afford and only 43 active sites. however country wide e.g. canada captures 5b tonnes. long term- 90% emmisions
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advantages of carbon capture- mitigaton CC
reduced co2 emmisions- moves carbon from fast carbon cycle into slow and long term store of carbon
can create more jobs
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disadvantages of carbon capture- mitigation CC
high costs- canada- 800m also consumes 21% coal plants energy
env risks- leaks
limited scale- only 43 active sites large scale
64
what is carbon afforestation and example and scale of impact-mitigation CC
trees act as a carbon sink, removing co2 from atmosphere through photosynthesis and storing it within the biomass and soil also release moisture and help moderate earths climate
plantation forests compramine 7% global forest area and are particular effective at absorbing co2 compared to natural forests
mangrove forest shri lanka- lost estimated 76% mangroves, expanded their coverage. mangroves absorb more carbon than other forests and dont burn due to swampy environment. over 14500 hectares of forest have been defined and over 700 000 mangrove seedlings
national scale- shri lanka but not everyone is able to aforest but can be used on a large scale. long term- takes a while to row and usually see carbon sequenstration
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advantages of afforestation- mitigation CC
carbon sequestration- absorb co2
biodiversity enhancement- new habitats and ecosystem resiliance
soil stabilisation and erosion prevention- tree roots bind soil
water cycle regulation- precipitation patterns regulated and preventing floods
economic opportunities- conservation, tourism
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disadvantages of afforestation- mitigation CC
land use conflicts- displacement of local communities and other agricultural land
reduced albedo effect- absorb more heat
loss of natural ecosystems- monoculture reduce biodiversity compared to natura;
carbon sequenstration delay- decades
financial- maintenence
67
what is sustainable farming practices and example and scale of impact- mitigation CC
argriculture both solution and contributor to climate change- sustainable farming practices can reduce GHG, enhance carbon sequenstation and increase env reilience.
examples- agroforestry (kenyas great green wall- help desertification and absorbs co2)) intergrate trees into farming systems
conservation tillage (USAs corn belt)- reduce soil disturbance by less ploughing. crop rotation (france) growing cover crops in between main crops to maintain soil.
global able to do this in most of the world however LICs may struggle with a lack of funding and knowledge. long term impacts- lasts long but takes long to grow
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sustainable farming practices advantages- mitigation CC
agroforestry- trees sequester carbon, reduces soil erosion, enhances biodiversity, additional sources of income
conservation tillage-reduces soil carbon lost to atmosphere, imp soil moisture retention reducing need for irrigation, prevents soil degredation.
crop rotation/coverage- enhances fertility reduce reliance on fertilisers- GHG
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sustainable farming practices disadvantages- mitigation CC
agroforestry- takes time for trees to mature, initial costs high
conservation tillage- initially reduce crop yeilds, specific machinery
crop cov/rotation- planning and knowledge
70
what are international agreements and example and scale of impact- mitigation CC
play a key role in global CC mitigation by setting targets for reducing GHGemmissions, promoting cooperation and holding countries accountable
kyoto protocol- legally binding IA for contries to reduce GHG emmissions.
paris agreement 2015- almost all nations agreed to limit GM to below 2C ideally 1.5 compared to pre industrial levels.
glasgow climate pact- an update to paris agreement where strengthened agreements and agreed to phase down coal.
all countries set their own NDCs and glasgow pact over 100 countries signed to end deforestation by 2030- global
long term- if all countries continue can reduce GHG in long term
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international agreements advantages- mitigation CC
kyoto- set legally binding and raised global awarness for CC as political issues
paris- all countroes set own NDCs and introduced a 5 year reveiw cycle to strengthen targets, financial support- countires pleged 100b a year
glasgow- first to mention reducing FF use explicity, pleged to ed deforestation by 2030, financial commitments
72
international agreements disadvantages- mitigation CC
kyoto- only developed countries has target and USA refused, countries like canads withdrew- struggled, emmissions reducting not slow enough
paris- non binding, NDCs not ambitious enough to keep below 1.5C
glasgow- lack of enforcement, failed to meet
73
what strategies to adapt to climate change is there
farming adaptations
water supply adaptations
sea level rise adaptations
74
farming in adapting to climate change
farmers can introduce new cropping patterns by altering planting and sowing dates- using drought resistant seeds- can be expensive, investing in ore efficient irrigation systems and learning about water harvesting techniques and planting trees to protect seedlings from extreme sunlight
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water supply in adapting to climate change
drought and flood events have become more frequent due to CC which can lead to water insecurity- effect rural developing nations. to manage this- reduce demand and increase supply e.g. london by 2030 all houses offered free retrofic package of water efficient appliences e.g. washing masines that use less water and desalinisation plants however expensive and losts of energy.
in LICs ways to manage supply is small scale e.g. artificial glacier in india- glaciers retreating so supply threatened when melts in spring
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sea level rise in adapting to climate change
sea levels risen 20cm since 1900 and continue to. can lead to wide spread flooding e.g. bangledesh- low lying country.
this leads to wiping out crops, erosion and salinisation. along with maldives being underwater by 2030. focusing on adaptations such as sea walls e.g. 3m sea wall and sandbags used. houses built on stilts so they wont flood, man grove swamps restored and discussion on relocating pop to shri lanka or india
77
what is the case study of a tropic rainforest setting
water and carbon in the amazon
78
facts andlocation of the amazon and how its changed over time
at 670m hectares, is the largest rainforest and most biodiverse with 300b trees and 15000 species that store 1/5 of the carbon in plants biomass, its in south america and has strunk and advanced again as the ice age came and went, spread over 9 countries and now home to 34m who rely on its resources.
79
the flows of carbon within the amazon rainforest
the mainstore of carbon is in biodiversiry, storing 76b tonnes of carbon in 2019. the amazon stores more carbon that it gives off, makung it a carbon sink. trees take in carbon through photosynthesis, using that and water to produce oxygen and glucose. respiration also takes place giving of co2 and energy. dead trees emit 1.9b tonnes to the atmosphere each year and absorbes 2.2b tonnes meaning untouched tropical rainforests act as a sink
80
how the amazon rainforest affects the local water cycle
much of the rainfall re-enters the water cycling system of the amazon, 48% evapotranspirated ends up as rainfall
81
how the amazon rainforest effects the global water cycle
moisture created in amazon falls as rain as far away as texas, moisture tracels around the world
82
how agriculture as a cause of deforestation effects the water and carbon cycle
water cycle- whilst agriculture uses water, trees are removed for pasture land and cattle farming which can compact the soil and reduce infiltration and the removal of trees reduces interception and infiltration which can lead to floods
carbon- farming increases production of carbon through chemicals like fertilisers and lack of trees reduces intake of co2 through photosynthsis
83
road building as a cause of deforestation and how it impacts the water and carbon cycle
water- hard impermeable surfaces reduce infiltratiion and lead to more surface run off which leads to flash floods e.g. trans amazonian highway and impacts interception and transpiration
carbon- production of cement/tarmac produces lots of co2 and if more cars are driving there will be combustion of co2 and areas become a carbon source
84
how energy development as a cause of deforestation effects the water and carbon cycle
water- building dams can flood large areas of land which alters the hydrological cycle with higher soil saturation and less evapotransipratipn.
carbon- production of energy especially hydroelectric power reduces co2 emmissions as there will be less need to use non renewable energy from things like coal so less carbon is emmitted however forests still cleared- emmits co2
85
impacts of climate change in the rainforest
mean temp inc of 0.26C every 10 years
predict by 2050 temps will increase in the amazon 2-3C
experienced falling rainfall 1920-70s but sinse then so significant chanhge
86
impacts of vegetation changes in the rainforest
-20% amazon already lost
-due to deliberate deforestation and climate change
-species limited due to tolerance to temp change, drought, seasonality
-droughts and high temps killed millions of trees
-2C temp rise sinse pre industrial levels and 20-40% amazon die within 100 years
87
impacts soil changes in the rainforest
when forests cleared and burned- 30-60% C lost to the atmosphere
-when forest clearance first occurs- soil exposed to heavy rainfall
-soil washed away
88
impacts of river changes in the rainforest
changes in precipitation lead to- reduction in river discharge, increase silt washed into rivers, flash flooding, destroy ecosystems, destroy water supply for millions of people
89
what change of the rainforest is most significant on the water cycle
river changed due to changes in precipitation, extreme rainfall and seasonality will have a significant impact on the water cycle as it can lead to increased silt washed into rivers which could risrupt transport routes ad lead to flash flooding along with an overall reduction in river discharge. flooding will lead to soils being fully saturated- less I and more SRO, inc evaporation- intense rainfall. less river discharge- droughts
90
what change of the rainforest is most significant on the carbon cycle
climate change by anthropogenic emmissions and deforestation temp in R by 2050 will increase 2-3C- droughts, plant death e.c -global soil changes are also significant on the as when forests are cleared and burned, 20-60% of carbon is lost to atmosphere and when exposed to heavy rainfall- carbon washed away
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what are the different types of changes in the rainforest
climate change
vegetation changes
soil changes
river changes
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links between the water and carbon cycle in the rainforest
increased global CC due to emmissions of c02 is linked to falling amounts of rainfall between 1920-70s-ncreased co2 leads to GW and would increase evaportation leading to droughts, increased desertification and can reduce carbon in biomass
droughts have played a role in killing millions of trees leading ti more co2 releases by those trees when they decay
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