Science 21 - Carbon Cycle Flashcards
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Questions and Answers

What is a hydrocarbon?

Molecules made only of carbon and hydrogen that are formed by the decomposition of the remains of prehistoric animals and plants.

How is coal formed?

Coal is formed through the remains of vegetation which has accumulated in swamps or bogs millions of years ago.

How are oil and gas formed?

Oil and gas are formed by the decomposition of organisms, such as plankton or algae, in seas or lakes.

How does a coal-fired power station power homes?

<p>Fossil fuels are burnt to produce electricity, converting chemical energy into heat energy to create steam, which drives a turbine.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Australia rely so much on coal to supply our electricity needs?

<p>Australia has an abundant supply of coal which is cheap and has established power plants for easy electricity generation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the relationship between magnetism and the flow of electricity.

<p>Moving a magnet near a coil of wire produces an induced electric current in the coil.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How long are the reserves of the three kinds of fossil fuels predicted to last?

<p>Coal will last around 250 years, gas for 70 years, and oil for only 50 years.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name the process by which living things transfer carbon from the atmosphere to carbon held in living tissue.

<p>Photosynthesis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name the process by which living things transfer carbon from living tissue to carbon in the atmosphere.

<p>Respiration and decomposition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a carbon store?

<p>Where carbon exists in the carbon cycle for a prolonged period of time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of a carbon store.

<p>Atmosphere, oceans, forests, limestone rocks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a carbon transfer?

<p>A process where carbon is transferred between different parts of the carbon cycle.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of a carbon transfer.

<p>Photosynthesis, decomposition, CO2 dissolving in seawater, respiration.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a carbon sink?

<p>Something that absorbs more carbon than it releases.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of a carbon sink.

<p>Forests, oceans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a carbon source?

<p>Something that releases more carbon than it absorbs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of a carbon source.

<p>Volcanoes, transport, industry, bushfires.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does deforestation affect the carbon cycle?

<p>Deforestation reduces the capacity of forests to be carbon sinks, and if vegetation is burnt, it becomes a carbon source.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does a fossil fuel burning power station play in the carbon cycle?

<p>It is a carbon store that becomes a carbon source when fossil fuels are burned, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is carbon offsetting?

<p>Carbon offsetting is a financial tool that enables businesses and individuals to invest in environmentally friendly projects.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does carbon footprint mean?

<p>A measure of individual or organizational greenhouse gas emissions that support human activity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What factors influence any particular country's carbon footprint?

<p>Wealth correlates with carbon footprints; developed countries tend to have larger footprints.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the greenhouse gases?

<p>Nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, ozone, nitrous oxide.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe the naturally occurring greenhouse effect.

<p>Some gases in the atmosphere act like a blanket, keeping the planet around 33º warmer.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'enhanced' greenhouse effect?

<p>Human activity has increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, enhancing its ability to trap heat.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe 3 causes of the intensification of the greenhouse effect.

<p>Burning fossil fuels for energy, deforestation, and agricultural practices that release methane.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is global warming?

<p>The increase in temperatures of Earth's oceans and atmosphere.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the link between the industrial revolution and the increase in global temperatures?

<p>The industrial revolution marked the beginning of extensive fossil fuel burning and industrialization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain why melting icebergs will not affect sea levels, but melting glaciers will.

<p>Icebergs are already in the sea, while glaciers are on land and their melting adds water to oceans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of global warming predicted to be on the Great Barrier Reef?

<p>Coral bleaching caused by small changes in temperature leading to stress in corals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of global warming predicted to be on Kakadu National Park?

<p>Changes to fire regimes, rising sea levels, and increased storm activity impacting ecosystems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is acid rain?

<p>Pollution that leads to the formation of sulfuric acid and nitric acid from sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do we measure the electrical energy used in the home?

<p>In kilowatt-hours (kWh).</p> Signup and view all the answers

If an electric oven is used for three and a half hours (it uses 2.3 kW in power), how do we work out the total electrical energy used?

<p>2.3 * 3.5 = 8.05 kWh.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How many kilowatt hours would be used if you were to heat up your frozen Thai chicken curry for 7.5 minutes?

<p>4.6 * (7.5/60) = 0.575 kWh.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name three ways to reduce your energy usage at home.

<p>Purchase energy efficient appliances, reduce use of heating or air conditioning, unplug appliances on standby.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Advantages of solar (PV)

<p>Renewable, pollution-free, energy source is free.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Disadvantages of solar (PV)

<p>Most expensive to produce/purchase, limited by sunlight exposure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Advantages of solar (thermal)

<p>Direct use of heated water, renewable, pollution-free, energy source is free.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Disadvantages of solar (thermal)

<p>Limited by sunlight exposure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Advantages of wind energy

<p>Very efficient and great capacity for power generation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Disadvantages of wind energy

<p>Environmental impacts; noise, visual, bird deaths, limited by lack of wind.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Advantages of hydroelectric energy

<p>Free, renewable source of energy, non-polluting.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Disadvantages of hydroelectric energy

<p>Environmental effects of damming a river; reduced downstream flow, interrupts breeding of migratory fish.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Advantages of geothermal energy

<p>Direct use for water heating, efficient, renewable, non-polluting.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Disadvantages of geothermal energy

<p>Limited by geographic locations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Advantages of wave energy

<p>Renewable, non-polluting.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Disadvantages of wave energy

<p>Can be expensive to set up, limited by geographic locations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Advantages of tidal energy

<p>Renewable, non-polluting.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Disadvantages of tidal energy

<p>Can be expensive to set up, limited by geographic locations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Advantages of biomass energy

<p>Provides income to farmers for excess crops or waste materials, supplements oil supply.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Disadvantages of biomass energy

<p>Releases CO2 only partially offset by replanting.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Advantages of nuclear energy

<p>Australia has access to abundant uranium, providing jobs and reducing reliance on coal.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Disadvantages of nuclear energy

<p>High construction costs, safety concerns, and nuclear waste management challenges.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Hydrocarbons and Fossil Fuels

  • Hydrocarbons are molecules consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen, arising from decomposed prehistoric organic matter.
  • Coal formation requires vegetation accumulation in swamps over millions of years, being buried and subjected to heat and pressure, altering its properties.
  • Oil and gas form from decomposed marine organisms like plankton, buried under sediment, transforming into hydrocarbons.

Energy Generation and Carbon Sources

  • Coal-fired power stations burn fossil fuels to convert chemical energy into electricity via heat, steam, and turbines.
  • Australia relies heavily on coal due to its affordability and existing infrastructure for electricity generation.

Carbon Transfer and Stores

  • Photosynthesis transfers carbon from the atmosphere into living organisms as carbohydrates; respiration and decomposition return it as carbon dioxide and methane.
  • Carbon stores exist over extended periods, including the atmosphere, oceans, forests, and limestone.
  • Carbon transfers occur through processes like photosynthesis, decomposition, and respiration.

Carbon Sinks and Sources

  • Carbon sinks absorb more carbon than they release, examples include forests and oceans.
  • Carbon sources release more carbon than they absorb; examples include volcanic eruptions, transportation, and industry.

Impact of Deforestation and Combustion

  • Deforestation diminishes forest carbon storage capacity, turning them from sinks to sources when vegetation is burned.
  • Fossil fuel power stations act as carbon stores until combustion releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Carbon Footprint and Offsetting

  • A carbon footprint measures individual or organizational greenhouse gas emissions, influenced by a country's wealth and development.
  • Carbon offsetting finances eco-friendly projects to neutralize carbon footprints.

Greenhouse Gases and Effects

  • Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and ozone; they trap heat in the atmosphere.
  • The naturally occurring greenhouse effect keeps Earth about 33ºC warmer, essential for life.

Enhanced Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

  • Human activities have intensified the greenhouse effect by increasing greenhouse gas concentrations.
  • Global warming refers to rising Earth temperatures, linked to the industrial revolution's fossil fuel combustion.

Ice Melting and Climate Change

  • Melting glaciers raise sea levels, while icebergs do not, as they are already in water.
  • Global warming threatens ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef through coral bleaching and impacts environments like Kakadu National Park due to saline intrusions.

Acid Rain and Its Formation

  • Acid rain results from sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from pollution, leading to the formation of sulfuric and nitric acids.

Energy Measurement and Usage

  • Electrical energy consumption at home is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
  • Energy usage can be calculated by multiplying power consumption by time.

Reducing Home Energy Usage

  • Strategies to reduce energy consumption include using energy-efficient appliances, limiting heating and cooling, and opting for LED lighting.

Renewable Energy Sources: Pros and Cons

  • Solar (PV): Renewable, pollution-free, but production costs are high.
  • Solar (Thermal): Direct use for heating, renewable, but limited by sunlight.
  • Wind: Highly efficient but can impact wildlife and environment; reliant on wind availability.
  • Hydroelectric: Non-polluting and provides water resources; environmental effects from damming.
  • Geothermal: Efficient and renewable heated water source; geographically limited.
  • Wave and Tidal: Renewable energy sources but can be costly and location-dependent.
  • Biomass: Offers farmer income and complements oil but partially offsets CO2 emissions due to combustion.
  • Nuclear: Efficient energy source with low emissions but high construction costs and waste management issues.

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Test your knowledge on the carbon cycle with these flashcards. Learn about hydrocarbons and the formation of coal, among other key concepts. Perfect for science students wanting to deepen their understanding of this vital ecological process.

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