6.3C Fossil Fuel Combustion & Changes in the Carbon Cycle

• Fossil Fuel Combustion:

  • Without human activity, the carbon in fossil fuels would flow into the atmosphere very slowly through volcanic activity
  • The balance of the carbon cycle has been altered by the burning of fossil fuels which has various impacts on:
  • Global climate
  • Ecosystems 
  • The hydrological cycle

  
• Implications for the Climate

  • The IPCC report in 2014, explicitly linked gas concentrations to fossil fuel emissions, rising global temperatures and sea levels
  • Changing temperatures and salinity levels of the oceans, as a result of global warming, could affect the thermohaline current
  • The North Atlantic Drift (NAD), also known as the Gulf Stream could slow or reverse
• Implications for Ecosystems

  • species with low population numbers, limited climatic ranges or restricted habitats are at risk
  • Marine ecosystems are threatened by lower oxygen levels, higher rates of ocean acidification and food chain changes 
  • Coastal ecosystems are at risk from sea level rise
  • Although most species will be impacted negatively, there are some that may benefit
  • Cool, moist regions (e.g., UK) could provide habitats for more species
• Implications for the Hydrological Cycle

  • The hydrological cycle’s flows and stores are vulnerable to global warming