Carbon Cycle and Energy Security Overview

What is the Largest carbon store

Geological store

Order of carbon stores by size (atmosphere, geological store, deep ocean)

Geological store, deep ocean, atmosphere

name the 4 Other carbon stores

Permafrost, soil, ecosystems, surface ocean

state 3 Other names for carbon stores

Pools, Stocks, Reservoirs

where is Inorganic carbon found?

Rocks

where is Organic carbon found?

Plants

where is Gaseous carbon found?

Atmosphere (Carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide)

what is the Fastest flow/flux of carbon

Photosynthesis

what is the Order of fluxes by rate (volcanoes, ocean sequestration, photosynthesis)

Photosynthesis, ocean sequestration, volcanoes

state 3 Other fluxes

Respiration, burning fossil fuels (combustion), Decomposition

what is the Unit for measuring carbon fluxes

petagrams per year

what is the Reservoir turnover rate

The rate at which carbon enters and leaves a store

is the Geological carbon cycle fast or slow

Slow

what is the Reservoir turnover rate of geological carbon cycle

At least 100,000 years

where is Carbon stored in the geological carbon cycle

In rocks

what Type of sedimentary carbonate rock formed in oceans

Limestone

How is limestone formed?

Shells of creatures accumulate on the seabed, buried, build up in layers under pressure

What is lithification?

Process where shells are compacted under heat and pressure to form limestone

what Mountain range is one of the earths largest carbon store

Himalayas

How is oil and gas formed?

Phytoplankton sink to the ocean floor, under heat and pressure form oil

How is coal formed?

Dead trees and plants decompose over many years

what are two Key processes are involved in the movement of carbon in the geological carbon cycle

Chemical Weathering and Volcanic outgassing

state 5 Tectonic processes that can cause volcanic outgassing

Subduction, hot spots, sea floor spreading, fumaroles, rifting

state 2 Ways chemical weathering can wear away limestone cliffs

Acid rain, slightly acidic sea water

is the Biological carbon cycle fast or slow

Fast

what is Carbon sequestration

Movement of carbon from one form to another

what is the Biological pump

Phytoplankton taking up (sequestering) carbon during photosynthesis

what is the Carbonate pump

Calcium carbonate shells sinking to the ocean floor

what is the Physical pump

Ocean currents - the Thermohaline circulation

What is the thermohaline circulation

the global movement of seawater in a pattern dependent on temperature, salinity and density

what is Non-renewable energy

Finite energy resources (coal, oil, gas) - cannot be replaced

what is Renewable energy

Can be replaced, never run out-solar, wind

what is Recyclable energy

Using energy that would otherwise go to waste

state 6 Factors affecting energy access and consumption

Physical availability, cost, technology, public perception, level of economic development, environmental priorities

what is Energy security

The extent to which affordable, reliable and stable energy can be achieved

state 3 Physical risks to energy security

Exhaustion of reserves, natural hazards, geologically difficult to extract

state 4 Social risks to energy security

Environmental protests, lack of education, accidents, increased demand

state 3 Economic risks to energy security

Sudden changing costs of energy, lack of resources, wealth = higher energy use

state 5 Geopolitical risks to energy security

Paris agreement, war and terrorism, tensions (Russia), pipelines across countries, piracy

is there a large medium or small Mismatch between supply and demand of coal? why?

Small mismatch-largest producers are largest consumers (USA, Russia, China)

is there a large medium or small Mismatch between supply and demand of oil? why?

Large mismatch - Largest producers (Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Canada) are small consumers.

is there a large medium or small Mismatch between supply and demand of gas? why?

medium mismatch - Russia/USA are large consumers and producers. Some rely on LNG.

how is China's energy mix changing

Still majority coal, but in the future less coal more renewables (HEP, wind, solar), nuclear, fracking.

how is USA's energy mix changing

Using more domestic supplies of oil and gas, less reliant on foreign imports.

state 4 Energy pathways

Gas and oil pipeline, sea routes, road and rail, electricity cables.

state 3 regions that are large exporters of oil

Middle East, Venezuela (South America), Russia.

state 3 regions that are Large importers of oil

Europe, North America, East Asia.

state Chokepoints for oil pathways

Panama Canal, Suez Canal, Straits of Malacca, Strait of Hormuz, Bosphorus, Bab el Manded.

state the 2 global Gas transportation methods

Pipelines or Ship (Liquid Natural Gas).

state one example of piracy's impact on energy pathways

Somali Pirates - Bab el Manded.

state one example of Conflicts impact on energy pathways

Islamic State - set 19 oil fields alight in Iraq.

state examples of how Accident can impact energy pathways

Exxon Valdez 1989 oil spill, BP Deepwater horizon oil spill 2010 - Gulf of Mexico.

state 3 reasons why Europe's energy security may be threatened by Gazprom

Pipelines travel through Europe, Crimea, Gazprom supply energy.

what are Unconventional fossil fuels

Fossil fuels that are produced using different extraction methods (tar sands, deep water oil, shale gas, oil shale).

state Tar sands extraction cost and benefit

+ New jobs for communities and migrant workers. - Disrupt first nations, housing crisis due to migrants.

state 4 Environmental consequences of tar sands

- Water contamination, spoil waste heaps, deforestation, caribou declined.

state Oil shale extraction cost and benefit

+ New way of accessing oil - Expensive.

state Disadvantages of shale gas extraction (fracking)

- Water contamination, minor earthquakes, fraccidents, many drill sites needed.

state Environmental consequences of deep water oil extraction

- Deepwater Horizon oil spill-birds, turtles, dolphins killed, tourism lost, fishing damaged (crab, oyster, shrimp).

state Nuclear energy advantage and disadvantage

+ Lower GHG emissions, large power generating capacity - Safety (Chernobyl, Fukushima), Security (terrorism).

state Wind power advantage and disadvantage

+ Clean, renewable, cost effective - Intermittent power (wind), expensive to set up, protest - visual, noise pollution.

state Solar power advantage and disadvantage

+ Safe, clean, non polluting, good for poor countries - Hard to store energy, expensive, intermittent (clouds).

state Biofuels advantage and disadvantage

+ Less GHGS, easily grown, positive multiplier - Land sold to TNCs for crops, huge scale deforestation.

state Carbon capture and storage advantage and disadvantage

+ capture carbon, reduce emissions - complex technology, uncertain storage.

state Hydrogen fuel cells advantage and disadvantage

+ only waste product is water - Expensive and new technology.

state Electric vehicles advantage and disadvantage

+ Reduce emissions - Short distances, not enough charging points.

how does OPEC increase and decrease energy security

Inc+ invest in energy production Dec- Can reduce oil supply during conflict.

how do TNCs such as Shell and BP increase and decrease energy security

+ explore, extract, transport, refine, distribute supplies - accidents e.g. deepwater horizon

how do TNCs such as Gazprom increase and decrease energy security

+ build pipelines across europe, invest globally - can reduce supply during conflict (Ukraine)

How do consumers increase and decrease energy security

+ energy saving lightbulbs, double glazing - protests against fracking

How does national government increase and decrease energy security

+ invest in energy, grant permits for fracking - block choke points (Iraq/Iran)

How does Deforestation in Madagascar impact the soil, water and carbon cycle?

Increased runoff, less infiltration, washes away soil, carbon released into atmosphere, loss of carbon store.

how does Afforestation in China impact the soil, water and carbon cycle?

Increases carbon store, increases precipitation, improves soil quality.

how does Converting grasslands to farming (biofuels, USA) impact the soil, water and carbon cycle?

Traps moisture, improves soil health, increases carbon sink, releases carbon via fertilizer and removal of grassland.

How do more frequent droughts impact forest health and carbon stores in the amazon?

damage forest health and loss of carbon stores

what is Ocean Acidification

pH of ocean becoming more acidic due to human actions.

what is the Critical Threshold for Oceans

When oceans become so acidic they cause permanent damage (e.g. to coral reefs).

state 3 ways in which Decline in Ocean Health can impact human wellbeing

Damage mangroves (coastal protection), damage food source (fish), impact tourism (coral reefs).

state 4 Impacts of Forest Loss (due to oil palm plantations) on human wellbeing

Poor quality farmland, loss of fuelwood, reduction of recycled rainfall, loss of sacred Bodhi Tree.

state impacts of Increased Temperatures on Precipitation

Wet get wetter, dry get drier, more severe storms.

state impacts of Increased Temperatures on River Regimes

More water in rivers in winter, earlier peak flows.

state impacts of Increased Temperature on Water Stores

Glaciers melt, permafrost melts, increase groundwater.

what does Kuznets Curve show

Relationship between economic development and environmental degradation.

how do Natural Factors such as carbon sinks make climate change uncertain?

Positive and negative feedback mechanisms are uncertain.

how does Economic Growth make climate change uncertain?

More economic growth may lead to more emissions, but also may change to renewables.

how does Population Growth make climate change uncertain?

More people means more emissions, but rate is uncertain.

how do Future Energy Sources make climate change uncertain?

Radical technology is uncertain and untested, the world has not yet changed to renewables.

What is thermohaline circulation?

The global movement of water in a pattern dependent on temperature, salinity and density.

cold water is salty, dense and heavy. true or false

true

Nutrient Rich Warm Water rises to the surface due to upwelling, true or false?

true

reasons for Phytoplanktons Importance

Absorb carbon, essential for food web, oil is made from plankton.

what is a Terrestrial Primary Producer

plants

what is a Consumer

Animals that eat producers (plants).

what is decomposition

The breakdown of organic substances.

what is Humus

Dead plants and leaves - the organic part of the soil.

what is a Biological Decomposer

Worm.

what is carbon Fixation

The processes where carbon is transferred from the atmosphere to plants via photosynthesis.

what is Biomass

Organic matter.

what is Cellulose

An organic compound that makes up most of a plant cell's walls.

Reasons why carbon creates healthy soils

More humus, more decomposition, more pore spaces for water, drought, cool in summer