Water, Carbon and Life on Earth

• In trees, carbon makes up approximately 50% of their biomass
• An important link between the water cycle and the carbon cycle is the ability of water to absorb and transfer carbon dioxide.
• The water and carbon cycles do not act completely independently within the atmosphere. One of the key connections involves the absorption of carbon in rainwater, which facilitates key processes and affects the magnitude of both stores and transfers.
• Phytoplankton photosynthesise and use carbon dioxide to grow. They release dimethylsulphide which promotes the formation of clouds over the oceans. Increase in phytoplankton could cause watmer temperatures and more sunshine could therefore lead to an increase in cloudiness and global cooling - negative feedback
• Carbon capture and storage (CCS) uses technology to capture carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, the gas is then transported to a site where it can be stored underground
• CCS is estimated to be able to cut global carbon emissions by up to 19%
• In 2014, Boundary Damn in Saskatchewan, Canada, became the first ever CCS plant, aiming to cut CO2 emissions by 90%. However this is fairly uneffective and it only cuts emissions by about 40%
• In 2015, Sri Lanka began to protect mangrove forests after losing an estimated 76%. Mangroves absorb more carbon dioxide than any other forest and trap it in the soil
• Plantation forests comprise and estimated 7% of global forest area, and absorb carbon dioxide. Planting these is recognised by the IPCC as a legitimate option to reduce carbon emissions
• Several strategies are trying to reduce deforestation

  • Consumers are encouraged to by Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified timber
  • Countries, organisations and individuals can pay to offest their carbon emissions, this may include paying for protecting forests etc.
  • In Malaysia, the Selective Management System is a sustainable approach to only felling selected trees and replanting them