The Carbon Cycle- Stores and Transfers

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  • Created by: Om4r
  • Created on: 22-04-19 09:19
What is Carbon?
A basic chemical element along with nitrogen, phosphorous and sulphur needed by all plants and animals in order to survive
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Why is the recycling of Carbon Essential?
Because it enables food to be provided for plants and animals and energy sources to be created to fuel industrial development
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What is the Global Carbon cycle?
The Complex Transfers and Fluxes of Carbon between the major components of the Earths System. This includes the Biosphere, Lithosphere, Atmosphere and Hydrosphere
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What are the main stores of Carbon?
The Lithosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere and Cryosphere
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What is a Carbon Sink?
A store that absorbs more carbon than it releases
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What is a Carbon Source?
A store that releases more carbon than it absorbs
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What are Transfers?
The processes involving the transfer of carbon between the stores, including the inputs and outputs that affect the magnitude of the store at any one time
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What is an Example of Carbon Transfer?
Photosynthesis.
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What are Fluxes?
The exchange of Carbon between stores
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What are the 6 Natural Carbon Stores?
Marine sediments and sedimentary rocks, Ocean, Fossil Fuel Deposits, Soil Organic Matter, Atmosphere and Terrestrial Plants
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Describe the Marine Sediments and Sedimentary rocks as Carbon Stores:
Largest store of Carbon. Long-Term, rocks take millions of years to form
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Describe the Ocean as a Carbon Store:
Carbon Dioxide is absorbed directly from the air and river discharges carbon carried in solution. Absorption from Air has increased since the Industrial Revolution
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Describe Fossil Fuel Deposits as a Carbon Store:
Hydrocarbons such as coal, oil and Gas are important Long term stores of Carbon. Since the Industrial Revolution these stores have been exploited pumping huge quantities of Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere
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Describe the Atmosphere as a Carbon Store:
Stores Carbon Dioxide , in recent decades the magnitude of this store has increased leading to enhanced greenhouse effect and climate change
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Describe Terrestrial Plants as Carbon Stores:
Convert energy from sun into Carbohydrates. Plants can store carbon for years and transfer it to the soil. Through deforestation this Carbon Can be released back into the Atmosphere rapidly
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Where have scientists Identified Carbon Uptake is Increasing?
The Middle and High Latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere
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Where have scientists identified less Carbon is being absorbed?
The tropics and southern hemisphere
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What % of wood is Carbon?
50%
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How may rock become exposed for the first time?
By Glacial Retreat
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How may carbon be released from rock?
By breakdown of rock, often dissolved in water
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What colonises bare rock overtime?
Vegetation such as Lichen and Moss
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What occurs when vegetation is present on bare rock?
Carbon Exchange by Photosynthesis and Respiration
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How may soil develop on the rock?
Gradual addition of organic material on the broken rock fragments
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What is vegetation succession?
The development of a plant community from colonising pioneer species to climax vegetation
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What is a sere?
The succession of a specific environment
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What are the 7 Main Transfers Operating in the Carbon Cycle?
Photosynthesis, Respiration, Combustion, Burial and compaction, Carbon sequestration, Decomposition and Weathering
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What is Photosynthesis?
The process where plants use light energy from the sun to produce carbohydrates such as Glucose
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What is the Process of Photosynthesis?
Green Plants absorb light using chlorophyll found in leaves. The light energy converts Carbon Dioxide into Glucose. Oxygen is a By-Product
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What is Respiration?
The process of using oxygen to produce energy, By-Product Carbon Dioxide is returned to the atmosphere
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What Is Decomposition?
The process of Breaking down Organic material by decomposers such as Bacteria and Fungi , releasing the carbon into the atmosphere
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What is Combustion?
The burning of Organic Material in the presence of Oxygen emitting Carbon. Carbon is returned into the Atmosphere that might have been locked up in rocks for millions of years
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What is Burial and Compaction?
Where Organic Material is Buried by sediment becoming Compact. Overtime buried organic material may form hydrocarbons
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How are Corals and Shelled Organisms Involved in the Carbon Cycle?
They absorb Carbon dioxide from the water and convert it to calcium carbonate which is used to build their shells. When they die they accumulate on the Seabed. Some Carbonates Dissolve releasing CO2 the rest is Compacted forming Limestone
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What is Carbon Sequestration?
The Transfer of Carbon from the Atmosphere to rock formations, soils, plants and oceans
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What is Carbon Capture and Storage?
Technology that Captures Carbon from Atmosphere and Pumps it to underground stores kilometres deep
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What is Weathering?
The breakdown or decay of rocks in situ or close to the surface
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Why is the recycling of Carbon Essential?

Back

Because it enables food to be provided for plants and animals and energy sources to be created to fuel industrial development

Card 3

Front

What is the Global Carbon cycle?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What are the main stores of Carbon?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is a Carbon Sink?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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-han-

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Great flashcards! thank you for making them :)

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