lecture 8: carbon cycle stocks and fluxes

stock

amount of a particular substance or energy stored in a system at a given time.

flux

The rate at which a substance or energy enters or leaves a stock, typically expressed in units of amount per time

net flux

The difference between the flux in and the flux out of a system, often used to determine whether the system is in equilibrium.

residence time

The average time a substance spends in a given stock. It is calculated using the equation:

residence time equation

Residence Time = Stock / Flux

sink

a stock that is increasing due to a net flux

source

a stock that is decreasing due to a net flux

carbon sink

stock of carbon that is increasing by a flux of carbon from the atmosphere

carbon source

a stock of carbon that is decreasing by a flux of carbon to the atmosphere

Haber-Bosch Process

industrial procedure to produce nitrate from nitrogen gas

Nitrogen Fixation

process where certain bacteria and microbes convert nitrogen gas (N₂) from the air into ammonia (NH₃) or ammonium (NH₄⁺), which are usable by plants.

chemical fertilizer

The process by which nitrogen gas (N₂) from the atmosphere is converted into ammonia (NH₃) or other compounds, making it available for use by plants. This process is carried out by nitrogen-fixing bacteria

acid rain

forms when gases, often from burning fossil fuels, react with water

crop rotation

The practice of growing different types of crops in the same area across different seasons or years to improve soil health, manage pests, and reduce the need for chemical fertilizerss

rock weathering

The breakdown of rocks and minerals due to physical, chemical, or biological processes which releases nutrients into the soil

dust transport

The breakdown of rocks and minerals due to physical, chemical, or biological processes.