The carbon cycle

Question 1

What are transfers in the carbon cycle?

Answer 1

-Photosynthesis
-Respirstion
-Combustion
-Decomposition
-Diffusion
-Weathering and erosion
-Burial and compaction
-Carbon sequestration

Question 2

What is photosynthesis?

Answer 2

Living organisms covert carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water from the soil into oxygen and glucose using light energy

Question 3

What is respiration?

Answer 3

Occurs when plants and animals convert oxygen and glucose into energy which it then produces the waste products of water and co2

Question 4

What is combustion?

Answer 4

When fossil fuels and organic matter such as trees are burnt and emit co2 into the atmosphere

Question 5

What is decomposition?

Answer 5

When living organisms die, they are broken down by decomposes which respire returning co2 back to the atmosphere

Question 6

What is diffusion?

Answer 6

The oceans can absorb co2 from the atmosphere, which has increased ocean acidity by 30% since preindustrial times

Question 7

What is weathering and erosion in the carbon cycle?

Answer 7

Rocks eroded on land or broken down by carbonation weathering.

Question 8

What is burial and compaction in the carbon cycle?

Answer 8

When shelled marine organisms die, their shell fragments fall to the ocean floor and become compacted over time to form limestone and is compacted overtime

Question 9

What is carbon sequestration?

Answer 9

Transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to other stores and can be both natural and artificial

Question 10

Advantages of carbon sequestration?

Answer 10

-Can be fitted to existing coal power stations
-Captures 90% of co2 produced
- Potential to capture half the worlds Co2

Question 11

Disadvantages of carbon sequestration?

Answer 11

-High cost
-Increases energy demand of power stations
-May not be space to fit it in existing power stations

Question 12

What is a sere?

Answer 12

A sere is a stage of a vegetation succession and can relate to specific environments

Question 13

What is a vegetation succession?

Answer 13

Occurs when a plant community develops and becomes more complex over time

Question 14

What is the climatic climax?

Answer 14

The final stage of the sere where environmental equilibrium is achieved

Question 15

What are the main carbon stores?

Answer 15

-Marine sediments and sedimentary rocks
-Oceans
-Fossil fuel deposits
-Soil organic matter
-Atmosphere
-Terrestrial plants

Question 16

What is the main store of carbon?

Answer 16

Lithosphere

Question 17

What is the carbon sink?

Answer 17

Any store which takes in more carbon than it emits

Question 18

What is the carbon budget?

Answer 18

The amount of carbon stored and transferred within the carbon cycle

Question 19

What are natural processes in the carbon cycle?

Answer 19

-Wildfires = transfer carbon through burning, can encourage the growth of plants in the long term
-Volcanic activity = carbon stored within the earth is released during volcanic eruptions

Question 20

What are the human impacts of the carbon cycle?

Answer 20

-Fossil fuel use = Combustion transfers CO2 to the atmosphere from a long term carbon sink
-Deforestation = Often used to clear land, releases carbon stored in plants using slash and burn techniques
-Farming practises = releases co2 as animals respire and farming machinery

Question 21

What is the carbon source ?

Answer 21

A store that emits more carbon that it absorbs

Question 22

What is the enhanced greenhouse effects?

Answer 22

The enhanced greenhouse effect is the process that is currently causing global warming as high levels of greenhouse gases are being produced by humans, by tapping radiation from the sun, causing global warming and climate change.

Question 23

Who is the enhanced greenhouse effect caused by?

Answer 23

Humans

Question 24

Who is the greenhouse effect caused by?

Answer 24

Natural process

Question 25

What is the impact of the carbon cycle on regional climates?

Answer 25

-Tropical rainforests: High rates of photosynthesis and respiration in forests lead to a greater humidity, cloud cover and precipitation
-Deforestation reduces photosynthesis and respiration

Oceans: Warmer oceans cause more plankton growth and through plankton chemical production, causes clouds to potentially form

Question 26

What positive feedback is there in the carbon cycle?

Answer 26

-Wildfires are more likely in hotter and dryer climates, which releases co2, which turns into the warming effect

-Ice reflects radiation from the sun, reducing surface warming, as sea temps rise, ice melts, the warming effect occurs, = less ice to reflect radiation

Question 27

What negative feedback is there in the carbon cycle?

Answer 27

-Increased photosynthesis by plants rising global temps allows vegetation grow in new areas, new vegetation absorbs co2, decreasing the warming effect
-Phytoplankton photosynthesis to gain energy and warmer oceans cause the production of chemical by plankton which causes cloud formation- this decreases warming by the sun

Question 28

What are the relationships between the water cycle and the carbon cycle?

Answer 28

-Rain that forms over intact tropical rainforests may fall over deforested land due to wind, causing erosion, with the soil and ash flowing into rivers, increasing the carbon content or rivers, the water leaves the rainforest cycle as an output through streamflow

-Reduced rainfall in forest, less evapotranspiration in the deforested area, causing drought periods and rainforests go deterioiate

-Deforestation of peat lands and the digging of drainage channels reduces water storage

Question 29

How to mitigate climate change through global intervention?

Answer 29

-The paris agreement - climate deal
Aim to limit global temps to 2°c above pre industrial levels
-Support for developing countries
-Public interaction and awareness schemes
-Meet every 5 years to improve goals

Question 30

How to mitigate climate change and regional intervention?

Answer 30

-EU 20-20-20
20% reduction in green house gases and commitment to 20% of energy coming from renewable sources and 20% increase in energy efficiency by 2020
-EU has suggested it will increase its emissions reductions to 30%

Question 31

How to mitigate climate change on a national intervention?

Answer 31

Climate Change act 2008 UK
Legally binding target for the UK to reduce GHG emissions by 80% of 1990 levels by 2050 with a target of 26% by 2020 which has increased to 34%
-Created national carbon budgets and the independent committee on climate change

Question 32

How to mitigate climate change on a local scale?

Answer 32

-Improving home insulation
-Recycling
-Using energy more wisely and use if smart meters and using public transport or car sharing schemes