To what extent is there an inter-relationship between water and carbon cycles?

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To what extent is there an inter-relationship between water and carbon cycles?

Similarities

  • An increase in atmospheric CO2 levels can cause higher rates of evapotranspiration.
  • Through photosynthesis, water influences CO2 absorption from atmosphere to biosphere
  • Water can transfer CO2 from atmosphere to lithosphere/hydrosphere through precipitation in the form of acid rain; in the oceans, this then becomes carbonic acid
  • Amazon Rainforest: trees intercept 75% of rainfall and send it back to the atmosphere; they also absorb a lot of CO2 and store it
  • For decomposition to occour, water is needed by the decomposers. Decomposition is essential for the transfer of carbon from biomass to the atmosphere. This allows for nutrient cycling e.g. in the Amazon which supports growth of new plants. In fact the nutrient content of the Amazon's soils is quite poor in nutrients, meaning decomposition is very important

Differences

  • Evaporation and condensation are powered by the Sun's energy and changes in tempearture determined by that
  • Combustion causes CO2 transfer to the atmosphere from long-term fossil fuel storage/tree storage (an important carbon sink, 50% of tree barks made of CO2)

Overall comparison

There is a very strong inter-relationship between water and carbon cycles. Despite them not being entirely inter-dependent, it is clear that the need each other for a range of essental processes to take place.

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