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(workbook 2) (Layers of the Earth (LITHOSPHERE- over 99.9% of the carbon…
(workbook 2)
Layers of the Earth
LITHOSPHERE- over 99.9% of the carbon stored on earth is stored in sedimentary rocks. 0.004% is in fossil fuels
ATMOSPHERE- carbon stored as carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere. contains 0.001% of the Earth's carbon
HYDROSPHERE- dissolved in rivers, lakes and oceans. 2nd largest carbon store on Earth as contains 0.04%. majority found deep in the ocean in the form of dissolved inorganic carbon and a small amount is found at the ocean surface
BIOSPHERE- stored in the tissues of living organisms and is transferred to soil when living organisms die and decay. contains 0.004% of the Earth's total carbon
CRYOSPHERE- contains less than 0.01% of the Earth's carbon. Most found in the soil of permafrost where decomposing plants and animals have frozen into the ground
Fast Transfers of Carbon
PHOTOSYNTHESIS- transfers atmospheric carbon into biomass. Plants and phytoplankton use energy from the sun to change carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen
RESPIRATION- transfers carbon from living organisms to the atmosphere. Plants and animals break down glucose for energy, releasing carbon dioxides and methane in the process
COMBUSTION- transfers carbon stored in living, dead or decomposed biomass to the atmosphere by burning
DECOMPOSITION- transfers carbon from dead biomass to the atmosphere and the soil. After death, bacteria and fungi break organisms down. Co2 and methane are released. some is transferred into soil in the form of humus
OCEAN UPTAKE/ LOSS- Co2 is directly dissolved from the atmosphere into the ocean (cooler oceans absorb more). Also taken in by organisms that live in them (e.g plankton). Transferred to atmosphere when carbon-rich water rises to surface
Human Processes
FOSSIL FUEL EXTRACTION AND COMBUSTION- releases Co2 into the atmosphere. We are causing the release of long-term stores at rapid rates
DEFORESTATION- forests may be cleared for agriculture, logging or for development. Rapid flow of carbon
FARMING- animals release Co2 and methane when they respire and digest food. Ploughing releases Co2 stored in soil and rice paddies. Increasing as population increases as more resources are needed. Mechanisation increases Co2
LAND USE CHANGES- vegetation removed to make way for buildings, reducing carbon storage in the biosphere. Concrete production releases lots of Co2
Slow Transfers of Carbon
WEATHERING- chemical weathering transfers carbon from the atmosphere to the hydrosphere and biosphere. Creates acid rain which may dissolve rocks and wash carbon into the sea and is used to make shells from calcium carbonate
SEQUESTRIAN- carbon from the atmosphere can be captured and held in sedimentary rocks or as fossil fuels which form over millions of years. Carbon is sequestered in fossil fuels till we combust them
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- 1) increasing Co2 is causing temperatures to increase which is resulting in increased rates of melting in Polar Regions such as Antarctica
- 2) melting results in carving and creation of huge icebergs
- 3) the southern oceans on average produce 1,500 km3 of calved ice per year producing icebergs ranging from a few tens of metres in length to hundreds of kilometres
- 4) large giant icebergs can last for years and produce huge quantities of nutrient rich debris
- 5) icebergs contain huge amounts of debris, which is derived from glacial erosion and weathering processes as well as mass movement
- 6) the debris contained within the ice is nutrient rich and contains important elements
- 7) in this plume of meltwater and debris spreading from the iceberg, phytoplankton are stimulated and begin to grow and multiply
- 8) the phytoplankton absorb Co2 from the atmosphere in the process of photosynthesis
- 9) sea creatures feed off the phytoplankton
- 10) carbon is then deposited via excretion
- 11) dead sea creatures fall to the seafloor
- 12) carbon is therefore removed from the atmosphere and stored in the seafloor
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Individual Tree (local)
Positive feedback- If it's warmer there will be more decomposition so more carbon will be released which will make the earth warmer
negative feedback- more carbon makes the earth warmer so more photosynthesis occurs which reduces carbon
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Atmosphere (global)
positive feedback- global temperature rise, increased oceanic temperature, dissolved Co2 released by warmer oceans, more co2 in atmosphere
CARBON BUDGET- the balance between the carbon inputs and outputs
- or the tolerable quantity of greenhouse gas emissions that can be emitted while maintaining a specified chance of staying below a given global average surface temperature rise. We have already released 40% since 2000 and we only have 60% left till 2050 if we want to stay within the 1.5% warming
