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CARBON - Coggle Diagram
CARBON
Carbon Storage across earths systems
Distribution of Carbon in earth's systems: Carbon is a fundamental element present in various forms across Earth's systems. It exists in both organic stores, such as living organisms, and inorganic stores, including rocks and gases. Each system holds a different proportion of the planet's total carbon, contributing to the global carbon cycle
Lithosphere: The largest store, holding over 99.9% of Earth's carbon in sedimentary rocks like limestone. A smaller fraction, about 0.004%, is stored in fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas.
Atmosphere: Contains roughly 0.001% of Earth's carbon, primarily as carbon dioxide (CO2) with trace amounts of methane (CH4).
Hydrosphere: Oceans are the second-largest store with approximately 0.04% of Earth's carbon, mostly as dissolved inorganic carbon in deep waters. Carbon dioxide also dissolves in rivers and lakes, and surface ocean carbon exchanges with the atmosphere.
Biosphere: Holds about 0.004% of total carbon within the tissues of living organisms. Carbon transfers to soil upon death and decay of these organisms.
Cryosphere: Contains less than 0.01% of Earth's carbon, mainly in permafrost soils where frozen decomposing organisms trap carbon.
The concept of 'the carbon budget'
The carbon budget represents the balance between carbon inputs and outputs within a specific subsystem of the Earth. This balance determines whether a system acts as a net contributor or absorber of carbon, influencing the overall carbon cycle.
Carbon source: A system that releases more carbon than it absorbs, contributing to higher atmospheric carbon levels.
Carbon sink: A system that absorbs more carbon than it releases, reducing atmospheric carbon concentrations.
Budget calculation: The difference between carbon entering and leaving a system. A positive budget indicates a sink, while a negative budget indicates a source.
Effects of change in the carbon cycle
Alterations in the carbon cycle have widespread consequences across Earth's systems, impacting climate, ecosystems, and natural processes. These changes are often driven by increased carbon dioxide and methane levels in the atmosphere.
Impacts on atmosphere + climate
Greenhouse gas concentrations- Changes in the carbon cycle influence levels of carbon dioxide and methane, key greenhouse gases.
Global warming- Higher greenhouse gas concentrations trap heat, leading to rising global temperatures.
Climate patterns- Temperature increases alter weather patterns, often intensifying storms and other extreme weather events.
Impacts on land ecosystems
Plant growth + nutrients- The carbon cycle is vital for vegetation growth and nutrient recycling in soils.
Permafrost melting- Warmer temperatures thaw permafrost, releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere.
Wildfire frequency- Changes in climate can increase the occurrence of wildfires, further disrupting carbon storage.
Impacts on ocean environments
Carbon absorption- Oceans take up atmospheric carbon dioxide, supporting marine photosynthesis and the formation of shells and skeletons in organisms.
Ocean acidity- Increased carbon dioxide absorption raises ocean acidity, harming marine life.
Temperature effects- Warmer waters reduce the ocean's capacity to absorb carbon dioxide and may negatively affect temperature-sensitive marine species.
Major processes of carbon transfer:
The carbon cycle describes the continuous movement and storage of carbon through Earth's systems. It operates as a closed system, meaning the total amount of carbon remains constant, but its distribution shifts through various processes. These transfers occur over different time and spatial scales, from rapid exchanges to long-term storage.
Key carbon transfer mechanisms
Photosynthesis: Plants and phytoplankton use solar energy to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide and water into glucose, transferring carbon from the atmosphere to biomass. This carbon then moves through food chains.
Respiration: Living organisms break down glucose for energy, releasing carbon dioxide and, in some cases, methane back into the atmosphere.
Combustion: Burning of living, dead, or decomposed organic material transfers carbon from biomass to the atmosphere, often rapidly.
Decomposition: Bacteria and fungi break down dead organisms, releasing carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere while some carbon becomes part of soil as humus.
Ocean uptake and loss: Carbon dioxide dissolves directly into oceans from the atmosphere. Deep ocean water, rich in carbon, releases carbon dioxide when it rises to the surface.
Weathering: Atmospheric carbon forms acid rain, which dissolves rocks, transferring carbon to the hydrosphere and biosphere. Resulting molecules can form calcium carbonate in water, used by marine life.
Sequestration: Carbon is captured and stored long-term in sedimentary rocks or fossil fuels, often when organic material in oceans sinks and compacts. This carbon remains locked until released by processes like combustion.
Variations in time and spacial scales
Time scales of carbon flows: - Fast flows occur over minutes to days, including processes like photosynthesis, respiration, combustion, and decomposition. - Slow flows span millions of years, such as sequestration in sedimentary rocks.
Spatial scales of carbon flows: - Plant scale focuses on respiration and photosynthesis. - Ecosystem scale includes combustion and decomposition. - Continental scale ecompasses all flows, including long-term sequestration.
Natural and human influences on the carbon cycle
Natural Processes impacting the carbon cycle:
Wildfires: Rapidly transfer carbon from biomass to the atmosphere by burning vegetation. They reduce photosynthesis in the short term but can promote new plant growth over time, potentially having a neutral effect depending on regrowth.
Volcanic activity: Releases carbon stored in magma as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. While recent eruptions contribute less carbon than human activities, major eruptions could significantly disrupt the cycle.
Human activities altering the carbon cycle:
Fossil fuel extraction + use- Releases carbon sequestered for millennia in the lithosphere into the atmosphere, forming the main source of human-induced carbon emissions.
Deforestation: Reduces the biosphere's capacity to store carbon. When trees are burned, carbon is rapidly transferred to the atmosphere.
Farming practises: Livestock release carbon dioxide and methane through respiration and digestion. Ploughing exposes soil carbon to the air, while paddy field agriculture emits methane. Rising populations and mechanisation intensify these emissions.
Land use changes: Urbanisation removes vegetation, decreasing carbon storage in the biosphere. Concrete production for urban development also releases substantial amounts of carbon dioxide.