True or False?
Carbon is an essential building block for all life on Earth.
Enjoying Flashcards?
Tell us what you think
True or False?
Carbon is an essential building block for all life on Earth.
True.
Carbon is an essential building block for all life on Earth.
Define the term carbon cycle.
The carbon cycle is the movement of carbon between different stores in the Earth system, including the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.
State the meaning of lithosphere.
The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.
What is a carbon sink?
A carbon sink is a reservoir that absorbs and stores more carbon than it releases.
What is the definition of the pedosphere?
The pedosphere is the outermost layer of the Earth that consists of soil and is subject to soil formation processes.
What are the main forms of carbon found in the lithosphere?
The main forms of carbon found in the lithosphere are sedimentary rocks such as limestone (calcium carbonate), hydrocarbons (fossil fuels), and marine sediments from shells and marine skeletons.
True or False?
The atmosphere contains the largest percentage of Earth's carbon.
False.
The lithosphere contains the largest percentage (99.983%) of Earth's carbon.
What is the residence time of carbon in the atmosphere?
The residence time of carbon in the atmosphere is approximately 6 years.
Define carbon biomolecules.
Carbon biomolecules are organic molecules, including carbohydrates, fats, proteins, etc., and form 50% of the total dry mass of living things.
What are the two main systems of carbon flows between major stores?
The two main systems of carbon flows between major stores are the long-term (slow) carbon cycle and the short-term (fast) carbon cycle.
Define the term photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use CO2 from the atmosphere and water in the soil, using energy from sunlight to produce carbohydrates.
True or False?
Decomposition releases carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere.
True.
Decomposition releases carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere.
What does sequestration mean in the context of the carbon cycle?
Sequestration in the context of the carbon cycle is the process where carbon is removed from the atmosphere and stored in liquid or solid form, such as in rocks of the lithosphere or plants of the biosphere.
Define carbonation.
Carbonation is a form of chemical weathering where atmospheric CO2 combines with water vapour to produce carbonic acid, which reacts with rocks containing calcium carbonate.
What is the thermohaline circulation?
The thermohaline circulation is the global ocean conveyor belt system that distributes heat and carbon around the planet through deep ocean currents.
True or False?
Oceans absorb less carbon than they emit.
False.
Oceans absorb more carbon than they emit, with a net gain of 0.6 gigatonnes of carbon (GtC) yr-1.
What is the biological pump?
The biological pump is the process by which photosynthesis by phytoplankton and other marine organisms converts CO2 into organic matter, transporting carbon from the ocean's surface to deeper waters.
What is the solubility cycle in oceans?
The solubility cycle in oceans is the process by which CO2 absorbed from the atmosphere forms carbonic acid, which reacts to form bicarbonates and carbonates, some of which organisms use to make shells or skeletons.
True or False?
Wildfire combustion always results in a net loss of carbon from vegetation.
False.
While wildfires release stored carbon in vegetation back into the atmosphere, they can also encourage plant growth in the long term, and some plants need wildfires to grow.
Define carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the technological process of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial sources, separating it, treating it, and transporting it to a long-term storage location.
Define the term quaternary period.
The quaternary period is the most recent geological period spanning the last 2.6 million years, characterized by fluctuations between glacial and interglacial periods.
What is an interglacial period?
An interglacial period is a warmer phase between ice ages or glacial periods.
True or False?
Higher temperatures are associated with lower concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
False.
Higher temperatures are associated with high concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
What is permafrost?
Permafrost is permanently frozen ground, typically found in tundra and arctic regions that contains plant material and stores carbon.
Define positive feedback loop.
A positive feedback loop is a process where the effects of a change amplify the original change, leading to further intensification of the process.
What is the treeline?
The treeline is the edge of the habitat at which trees are capable of growing, often determined by cold temperatures in tundra regions.
True or False?
Cold conditions increase the rate of decomposition.
False.
Cold conditions reduce the rate of decomposition due to the decreased effectiveness of decomposers.
Define wildfire.
A wildfire is an uncontrolled fire that burns in wildland vegetation.
True or False?
Volcanic activity contributes more CO2 to the atmosphere annually than human activities.
False.
Volcanic activity contributes relatively low amounts of CO2 (130–380 million tonnes) compared to human activities (30 billion tonnes) annually.
What is insolation?
Insolation is incoming solar radiation that reaches Earth's surface.
Define the term hydrocarbon.
A hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon, often found as fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas.
What does ppm stand for in relation to atmospheric CO2 levels?
In relation to atmospheric CO2 levels, ppm stands for parts per million, a measure of the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere.
True or False?
Extractive industries are responsible for half of the Earth's carbon emissions.
True.
Extractive industries are responsible for half of the Earth's carbon emissions.
True or False?
Undisturbed forestry is carbon neutral.
True.
Undisturbed forestry is carbon neutral, as any decomposition and its slow release of CO2 are compensated through the growth of new vegetation.
What does anthropogenic mean?
Anthropogenic means originating from human activities or human-made, typically in reference to environmental impacts.
True or False?
Rice cultivation produces significant amounts of methane.
True.
Rice cultivation produces significant amounts of methane due to bacteria in the waterlogged soil of rice fields.
What is gas flaring?
Gas flaring is the burning of natural gas associated with oil extraction when the gas cannot be easily captured and transported.
Globally, what percentage of total anthropogenic CO2 emissions is generated by the cement industry?
Globally, the cement industry contributes around 7.5% of total anthropogenic CO2 emissions.
In what ways do agricultural practices indirectly release carbon?
Agricultural practices indirectly release carbon through burning fossil fuels to run machinery and fertilisers based on fossil fuels.
What percentage of all released carbon is due to changes in land use?
The percentage of all released carbon due to changes in land use is 10%.
Define the term carbon budget.
The carbon budget is the amount of carbon stored and transferred within the carbon cycle on a global or local scale, including carbon emissions by various processes against natural or human sequestration.
True or False?
One GtC is equivalent to a million tonnes of carbon.
False.
One GtC is equivalent to a billion (1 000 000 000) tonnes of carbon.
What is a carbon footprint?
A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases produced (directly and indirectly) to support human activities, expressed in gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.
True or False?
The carbon cycle has no impact on precipitation rates.
False.
Areas of dense vegetation show increased precipitation rates due to the carbon cycle's effects.
What is dimethyl sulphide?
Dimethyl sulphide is a substance that phytoplankton releases into the atmosphere that can increase cloud formation.
Define algal bloom.
An algal bloom is a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in freshwater or marine water systems, often caused by increased levels of nutrients.
True or False?
Carbon stored in grass provides food for animals.
True.
Carbon stored in grass provides food for animals in the form of hay, silage, etc.
What is the natural greenhouse effect?
The natural greenhouse effect is the process by which greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb and emit radiation, warming the Earth's lower atmosphere and surface to maintain an average temperature of 14 °C.