booklet 5 - links between water + carbon

• Role of water in supporting life: drink, grow plants, wash
• Role of Carbon in supporting life: respire, fossil fuels, maintain ocean temps
• Relation ship between carbon and water cycle
• Carbon elements


  photosynthesis

  decomposition

  chemical weathering
• photosynthesis: main way carbon transferred between atmosphere and biosphere - gas transfer
• decomposition: bacteria breaks down organic matter - carbon gas emitted as they digest biomass

  when air present CO2 is released/ absent methane is released
• chemical weathering: carbon acid dissolves rocks such as calcium carbonate transferring carbon to ocean in slow carbon cycle
• links between cabon and water cycle -venn diagram: precipitation

  channel flow
• precipitation: key transfer in water cycle

  essential for weathering of terrestrial rocks containing carbon in slow carbon cycle
• channel flow: key to transferring water between land and oceans in hydrological cycle and carbon between land and oceans in carbon cycle
• elements mainly in water cycle

  transpiration

  soil storage
• transpiration: transfer of moisture from plants to soil to atmosphere

  key element of hydrological cycle
• soil storage of precipitation: regulates speed water is recylced in the hydrological cycle

  may influence aerobic or anaerobic respiration
• Interdependence of cycles: -key connection is absorption of carbon in rainwater= facilitates key processes and magnitude of stores and transfers
• Which biome contains the most carbon

  tropical forests
• Positive Feedback: -global temps rise

  - increased ocean temperature

  - dissolved co2 released by warmer ocean

  - more co2 in atmosphere

  -temps continue to rise
• Negative Feedback: global temps rise

  - warming tundra emits co2 and methane

  - increased ggs

  - vegetation grows

  - carbon sequestered from atmosphere
• El Nino


  important connection between water and carbon cycle
• What is el nino: a warming of tropical pacific ocean waters that affects wind circulation patterns, recurrs every 3 to 8 years
• how does it affect weather: -asia left unseasonably dry - droughts in india

  - increased flooding in Peru
• How has the carbon cycle influenced water cycle in the pacific ocean: ??????
• How is clearing vegetation for agriculture affecting the water and carbon cycle: water - less interception - more surface runoff

  carbon - less trees sequestering carbon, if trees burnt co2 released
• Hows burning fossil fuels affecting carbon and water cycles: water - increased acid rain / chemical weathering, more cloud and rain in atmosphere due to increased mositure

  carbon - increase amount of carbon in atmosphere
• How is expanding urban areas affecting water and carbon cycles: water - increase surface runoff due to less permeable surface, higher demand for water

  carbon - cement production rleases carbon , more cars, less trees and sequestering
• pros - increased precipitation: - more water for agriculture

  - more water collection possible for sanitation

  - more water for industry processes
• cons - increased precipitation: - increased flooding

  - reservoirs fill with silt more rapidly

  - less sun = lower crop yield
• pros - reduced precipitation: - areas prone to flooding less at risk

  - less rapid soil erosion

  - more sunshine may increase tourism
• cons - reduced precipitation: - less water for agriculture

  - less water for industry
• pros - higher annual temperatures: - extension of cultivation to higher lattitudes

  - extension of mineral operations into areas previously too cold

  - more tourist destinations
• cons - higher annual temperatures: - impacts to human health

  - increased evaporation of surface water

  -increased use of aircon which may use fossil fuels
• pros - more frequent tropical storm events: - effective systems put in place

  -more business for engineering companies
• cons - more frequent storm events: - increased deaths

  - storm damage to unprepared areas