Carbon cycle

• What type of system is the carbon cycle?


  It is a closed system
• What are the inputs and outputs of the carbon cycle?


  The inputs and outputs are just energy, not matter as it is a closed system. This means that the amount of carbon is constant.
• What are the 8 or 9 flows in the carbon cycle?


  1. Respiration
  2. Photosynthesis
  3. Sequestration
  4. Ocean- atmosphere exchange
  5. Weathering
  6. Decomposition
  7. Up-welling
  8. Down-welling
  9. Combustion
• What are the 8 main stores of carbon?


  1. Vegetation
  2. Animals
  3. Ocean
  4. Sediments
  5. Soils
  6. Earth's crust
  7. Atmosphere
  8. Fossil fuels
• What is the biggest store of carbon?


  The lithosphere
• What are the 5 stores of carbon?


  1. Lithosphere
  2. Hydrosphere
  3. Biosphere
  4. Cryosphere
  5. Atmosphere
• What % of carbon is stored in the lithosphere?


  99.9% of carbon is stored in the lithosphere
• Define up-welling


  A process in which currents cause deep, cold water to rise to the surface
• Define down-welling


  A process where surface waters converge pushing them deeper into the ocean
• Explain the process of carbonation?


  When slightly acidic (carbonic) water comes into contact with sedimentary rock dissolving it. A chemical reaction occurs and calcium bicarbonate is formed as a bi-product. This is soluble and is carried away into oceans causing carbon to be transferred to oceans in the form of a bicarbonate.