8.1.4
Atmospheric Carbon
The Greenhouse Effect
The Greenhouse Effect
The Natural Greenhouse Effect keeps the earth at the optimum temperature to support life. Human activity has affected this, leading to impacts on temperature and precipitation.
Greenhouse gases
Greenhouse gases
- Greenhouse gases are gases that lead to the greenhouse effect.
- These gases include methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2).
- These greenhouse gasses are naturally emitted through respiration and out-gassing.
Natural greenhouse effect
Natural greenhouse effect
- Solar radiation enters the earth’s atmosphere it passes through the greenhouse gases layer.
- This solar radiation is mostly absorbed by the earth's surface whilst some is reflected.
- Some of this reflected radiation will pass back into space.
- The greenhouse gas layer acts as a blanket, which stops the majority of this reflected radiation leaving the earth's atmosphere again.
- This allows the Earth to be at a high enough temperature to support life.
Enhanced greenhouse effect
Enhanced greenhouse effect
- Human activity causes there to be an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
- E.g. the burning of fossil fuels in vehicles.
- These greenhouse gases add to the natural 'blanket' layer in the atmosphere.
- This results in a larger amount of the reflected radiation being retained in the earth's atmosphere than normal, leading to warmer temperatures.
Impacts of the Greenhouse Effect
Impacts of the Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect has impacts on the distribution of temperature and precipitation throughout the world.
Temperature distribution
Temperature distribution
- Different locations on the Earth receive differing levels of solar energy.
- The angle of the sun's rays result in the Equator receiving the most concentrated radiation, whilst at the Poles the same radiation is dispersed over a greater distance.
The albedo effect
The albedo effect
- The colour of the surface of the earth (how light or dark it is) impacts on how much radiation is absorbed.
- This is called the albedo effect.
- The white snow of glaciers and ice caps reflects the majority of heat whilst relatively dark oceans and forests absorb heat.
- This heat is then redistributed via air circulation and ocean currents.
Precipitation distribution
Precipitation distribution
- The heating of the Earth’s surface leads to warm air rising, cooling, and condensing to form clouds.
- The intense solar radiation at the Equator leads to warm air rising, causing high levels of rainfall all year.
- At 30oN and 30oS, the air cools and sinks again resulting in high pressure where rainfall is rare.
- At 60oN and 60oS, different air masses meet resulting in frontal rainfall.
- The Poles are cold, resulting in air sinking, causing little rainfall.
Atmospheric regulation
Atmospheric regulation
Plants both in the ocean and on land are extremely important at regulating atmospheric carbon levels.
Photosynthesis' role
Photosynthesis' role
- Marine phytoplankton sequesters around 5-15Gt of carbon a year.
- Terrestrial primary producers sequester around 100-120Gt of carbon a year.
- Tropical rainforests can sequester 2200g of Carbon per m2 a year. This is significantly larger than open oceans.
- Arctic sea ice melt is increasing, leading to greater areas of oceans being exposed to sunlight for longer, causing algal bloom. Algae sequesters CO2 but alters marine ecosystems.
Soil health
Soil health
- The amount of carbon stored in the soil depends on:
- The size of the store in different biomes
- The total input (the amount of plant litter and animal waste)
- The total output (the amount of decomposition, erosion and uptake by plant growth).
- Stored carbon is important for soil health. Healthy soil will be dark in colour, contain worms and organisms and have good infiltration rates.
Seasonal change
Seasonal change
- The cooler weather and reduced hours of sunlight means that there is less photosynthesis occurring, so less CO2 is being taken up by the plants.
- The difference in global atmospheric carbon is therefore higher in the winter than summer.
- Climate change could mean that winters become shorter. If this is the case less CO2 will be released.
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
9.2Hard & Soft Power
9.2.1Hard & Soft Power
9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry
9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power
9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil
9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia
9.2.6Emerging Powers - India
9.2.7Theories of Development
9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road
9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms
9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC
9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
Jump to other topics
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
9.2Hard & Soft Power
9.2.1Hard & Soft Power
9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry
9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power
9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil
9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia
9.2.6Emerging Powers - India
9.2.7Theories of Development
9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road
9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms
9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC
9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
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