Reducing Human Impacts on the Carbon Cycle (HL IB ESS OLD COURSE - IGNORE)
Revision Note
Written by: Alistair Marjot
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Reducing Human Impacts on the Carbon Cycle
Human activities have significantly altered the carbon cycle
This has led to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and climate change
Measures are urgently needed to reduce these impacts and restore balance to the carbon cycle
Example of these measure include:
Low-carbon technologies:
Adopting low-carbon technologies is important for reducing carbon emissions from energy production, transportation, industry and buildings (heating, cooling etc.)
Examples include renewable energy sources like solar, wind and hydropower, as well as more energy-efficient technologies and practices (e.g. better insulation and heatpumps)
Reduction in fossil-fuel burning:
Decreasing the burning of fossil fuels is an essential step in reducing carbon emissions
Transitioning to cleaner energy sources, such as renewables can help achieve this
Using biomass as a fuel source:
Promoting sustainable cultivation of bioenergy crops that does not cause deforestation—bioenergy crops absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they photosynthesise
Utilising bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology
This involves producing energy from biomass
The carbon dioxide emissions from biomass combustion are also captured and stored underground
Together these processes effectively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
Reduction in soil disruption:
Decreasing soil disruption through sustainable agricultural practices is vital for preserving soil health and maintaining the ability of soils to sequester carbon
Practices such as crop rotation and cover cropping can minimise soil disturbance, erosion and loss of organic matter
Healthy soils with high organic carbon content act as carbon sinks, storing carbon and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions
Reduction in deforestation:
Implementing programs like the UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UNREDD)
This prevents deforestation and promotes sustainable forest management
Carbon capture through reforestation:
Reforestation involves planting trees on deforested or degraded lands to sequester carbon from the atmosphere
Trees absorb CO2 during photosynthesis, storing carbon in their biomass and surrounding soils
Forests act as important carbon sinks
Artificial sequestration:
Artificial sequestration technologies capture CO2 emissions from industrial processes and power plants, preventing them from entering the atmosphere
Methods include carbon capture and storage (CCS), where CO2 is captured, transported and injected underground for long-term storage
Enhancing carbon dioxide absorption by the oceans:
Ocean fertilisation techniques involve adding compounds like nitrogen, phosphorus and iron to stimulate the growth of phytoplankton
These phytoplankton then absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis
Using methods to increase ocean upwellings
These upwellings bring nutrient-rich deep waters to the surface
This has the same effect of promoting the growth of phytoplankton and enhancing carbon dioxide absorption
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