Unit 2 Lesson 4: Storage of Carbon Flashcards
storage areas of carbon are called
carbon sinks or reservoirs
reservoir
reservoir – an area that stores carbon
carbon sink
an area where carbon is stored
The carbon cycle involves the movement of carbon between four main reservoirs:
- atmosphere
- ocean
- sediments
- terrestrial biosphere
What does the terrestrial biosphere include
The terrestrial biosphere includes organisms on land and in freshwater systems, as well as organic matter found in soil.
What do sediments include
Sediments include all fossil fuels found in the ground.
The ocean is one of the largest reservoirs of carbon why is that
The ocean is one of the largest reservoirs of carbon because of its vast coverage of the planet and the fact that it is in direct contact with the atmosphere.
Why is carbon exhange in the ocean limited
However, water in extremely deep areas of the ocean lacks atmospheric contact, so carbon exchange at this depth is limited.
Any movement of carbon between the reservoirs is called a
flux
What is exmaple of a flux
For example, the smaller cycle of carbon between photosynthesis and carbon stored in soils continually flux between the biosphere and the atmosphere.
The amount of carbon is measured in units called
The amount of carbon is measured in units called gigatons of carbon (GtC).
Is there a lot or a little bit of carbon in living thing?
Only a small amount of carbon is stored in living things.
Where is most of the carbon found in plant biomass?
. Most of the carbon found in plant biomass is found in trees.
biomass
the total amount of living material in a given area
Does the atomsphere have a lot or a little bit of carbon
Notice also that the amount of carbon in the atmosphere is relatively small.
Compared to other planets such as Venus and Mars, Earth has very little carbon in its atmosphere. The main reason for this is simple:
life! Plants take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis to make glucose needed for energy.
How do animals such as clams and oysters use carbon in the ocean
animals such as clams and oysters that produce shells take carbon out of the water to build their homes.
what are the shells of oysters and clams mad eout of
Their shells are composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
.
What does the strucuture mantle in oysters and clams allow them to do
These animals have a specialized structure called a mantle that absorbs minerals from the water to produce the calcium carbonate it uses to build the shell around their bodies.
IS the large or small amount opf carbon in rocks and sediments
Additionally, a large amount of carbon is stored in rocks and sediments throughout most of the planet.
residence time
the amount of time carbon spends in a particular reservoir
How to find the residence time
This value can be calculated by dividing the amount of carbon in the reservoir by the rate of input or output.
How does carbom moving fast in the atompshere into the ssediment/rock affect its resdience time
The faster carbon atoms move from the atmosphere into the sediment/rock, the shorter their residence times will be in the atmosphere and the oceans.
What happens if the amount of carbon is so large? How does this affect the resdience time and the time it takes for the depostion into rock?
If the amount of carbon is so large that the residence times increase, then the deposition into rock slows down. The carbon gets stuck in the atmosphere and the oceans, causing them to heat up. This is what is currently happening with climate change.