Bio Carbon Cycle & Climate Change Test (27.08.24)

living organisms need supplies of

C, H, O, N, P

carbon cycle

cycling of carbon through an ecosystem

carbon moves between _______ via _______

pools, fluxes

carbon pool

location or system that stores or releases carbon

carbon flux

processes that exchange carbon between pools

fossil fuels form by

incomplete decomposition and fossilization of producers and consumers

main fluxes in an ecosystem

photosynthesis, feeding and respiration

carbon exists and enters ecosystems as

carbon dioxide

carbon sink

net uptake of CO2

(photosynthesis > respiration)

carbon source

net release of CO2

(respiration > photosynthesis)

keeling curve

graphical representation of atmospheric CO2 concentration since 1959

CO2 concentration increases between…

October and May

(Northern Hemisphere Winter)

CO2 concentration decreases between…

May and October

(Northern Hemisphere Summer)

anthropogenic

human caused

anthropogenic emissions of CO2

combustion of fossil fuels and biomass

more severe forest fires

decomposition of biomass and peat

anthropogenic sources of CH4

anaerobic respiration of organic matter in landfills

leaks during fossil fuel extraction and processing

bubbles from melting permafrost

digestive system of ruminants

cattle and sheep

ruminants

changes in climate

increased wind speed —> cyclones, typhoons

increased overall rain but droughts in some places

changes in prevailing wind speed

ecosystems act as carbon sinks by

accumulating biomass, peat and fossil fuels

positive feedback cycle

amplification of process by end

albedo

amt of sunlight reflected by snow & ice

main mechanism of positive feedback loop of albedo

glaciers reflect sunlight and melt with high temperatures

main mechanism of positive feedback loop of decomposition of organic matter

higher temperature speeds up decomposition of organic matter

main mechanism of positive feedback loop of deep ocean CO2

higher temperatures reduce solubility of CO2 in H2O

main mechanism of positive feedback loop of droughts and fires

droughts and fires are caused by high temperatures and release CO2

main mechanism of positive feedback loop of melting permafrost

melting of permafrost increases amt of anaerobic decomposition of organic matter

boreal forests changed from carbon sink to carbon source because…

..warmer temperatures and decreased snowfall increase drought and more frequent & intense forest fires

landfast ice

ice fastened to shore

effect on emperor penguins

antarctic fast ice melts earlier in breeding season —> harder for penguins to breed

sea ice

moving ice on open ocean

walruses ____ on _____ sea ice

raise young on arctic sea ice

ocean stratification results in

warm water on top layer

colder, more saline water below

upwelling

movement of nutrients into upper levels of ocean

how does increased CO2 contribute to coral bleaching

carbonic acid dissolves calcium carbonate which makes coral reef skeletons

coral bleaching

death of polyps and algae

loss of coral causes

collapse of reef ecosystem

sequestration

capture and storage of CO2 from atmosphere

afforestation

planting native or non-native trees where no forest previously existed

forest regeneration

restocking depleted forests

advantage of wetlands

huge carbon sinks

peat

naturally formed in wetland and useful as fuel and fertiliser.

north american tree species are moving

northward

montane birds in new guinea are moving

upslope to higher altitudes

phenology

research into the timing of biological events

photoperiod

length of daylight in 24hrs

(useful for flowering, egg laying & migration)

mostly unchanged

temp patterns

annual cycle of warming and cooling

(bud burst and leaf drop )

reindeer migration coincides with

growth of arctic moose-ear chickweed (emerges earlier bc of warmer temp)

great tit egg hatching coincides with

peak caterpillar biomass (occurring earlier)

spruce bark beetle life cycles per year are

increasing (dormant during winter —> shorter winter —> more life cycle)