8.1.4

Atmospheric Carbon

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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.

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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.
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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.
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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.
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Impacts of the Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect has impacts on the distribution of temperature and precipitation throughout the world.

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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.
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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.
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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

Plants both in the ocean and on land are extremely important at regulating atmospheric carbon levels.

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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.
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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.
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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.

Jump to other topics

1Tectonic Processes & Hazards

2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change

3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change

4Globalisation

5Option 4A: Regenerating Places

6Option 4B: Diverse Places

7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)

8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)

9Superpowers (A2 only)

10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)

11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)

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