Water and Carbon Cycles

Question 1

Are the water and carbon cycles open or closed cycles?

Answer 1

At the global scale: closed e.g. between atmosphere, oceans, land and biosphere

At smaller scale: open e.g. a forest ecosystem

Question 2

% of water stored in oceans?

Answer 2

97%

Question 3

% of water stored as polar ice and glaciers?

Answer 3

2%

Question 4

% of water stored as ground water?

Answer 4

0.7%

Question 5

Does fresh water comprise a large proportion of all water?

Answer 5

No, it is a very small proportion

Question 6

What fraction of fresh water stored in ice caps in Antarctica and Greenland?

Answer 6

3/4

Question 7

% of water stored in atmosphere? What explains this?

Answer 7

Only 0.001% which is explained rapid flux of water in and out the atmosphere.

Average residence time of water molecule in atmosphere is 9 days!

Question 8

How much carbon is stored in sedimentary rocks?

Answer 8

60 000- 100 000 000 billion tonnes

Question 9

How much carbon is stored in oceans?

Answer 9

38 700 billion tonnes

Question 10

How much carbon is stored in sea floor sediments?

Answer 10

6000 billion tonnes

Question 11

How much carbon is stored in fossil fuels?

Answer 11

4130 billion tonnes

Question 12

What are the largest carbon stores?

Answer 12

Carbonate rocks like limestone, chalk etc

Deep ocean sediments