To what extent does an understanding of feedback systems in the carbon cycle help with attempts
to mitigate the impact of climate change?
There are two types of feedback systems, positive or negative. Positive means that the increase in a
factor causes a domino effect which will eventually lead to a further increase in that factor. A
negative feedback loop is an increase in a factor leading to an eventual decrease in that factor.
Mitigating climate change is the idea of doing things to reduce the impact that climate change has.
One example of a positive feedback loop in the carbon cycle, is the increase in CO2 in the
atmosphere leads to permafrost melting meaning decaying organic matter begins to decompose,
which in turn releases more CO2. This shows us that the enhanced greenhouse effect that is
happening because of us, is leading to a domino effect which is causing even further warming. In
turn international agreements like the Paris agreement are being put in place to try keep the
temperatures low, this should in turn help reduce the melting of permafrost, one negative of these is
that often the biggest contributors to emissions (like Russia and USA) don’t join the agreements so
that they can continue to economically grow, while others growth is stunted due to following the
agreements, this could eventually lead to rising tensions among countries.
Feedback loops play a big role in the Amazon, one example of a negative feedback loop is the
increase in CO2 caused by humans is causing a surge in photosynthesis, this increases growth rates
meaning that even more CO2 is absorbed by trees, However, deforestation of the Amazon which is
happening at huge rates means that less carbon is being absorbed by trees, and the deforested trees
turn from a carbon sink into a carbon source. Furthermore, the land replacing the deforested areas
is almost all used for farming (95%) where either the replacement crops don’t absorb as much
carbon, or the animals release huge amounts of greenhouse gases. In reaction people are trying to
mitigate the impacts this is having by modifying deforestation, where selective logging and
replanting is done over the slash and burn technique. This not only removes the aspect of
combustion which leads to an increase in CO2 in the atmosphere, but also selective logging can help
improve the growth of the rainforest evidence of modifying deforestation can be seen in brazil
where there has been a massive reduction of deforestation in the Amazon.
Another way people are trying to mitigate the effects of climate change is through carbon capture
and storage. This is believed to be able to cut CO2 emissions by 90% by storing carbon in rocks for
hundreds of years. However, for many countries this is too expensive so cant be seen as a viable
option, furthermore it is likely to be seen as a better alternative to renewable energy for many which
it is not.
In conclusion, it can be seen that understanding positive feedback loops, can show us the
devastating impacts we are having on the planet, which can be seen from the melting of Permafrost,
however I believe understanding that the increase of CO2 caused by us may eventually lead to a
decrease in CO2 in some cases, could lead to a too relaxed outlook by many meaning that the
mitigation techniques wont be enough in the long term, Overall I would say that the understanding
of feedback loops is a positive.
to mitigate the impact of climate change?
There are two types of feedback systems, positive or negative. Positive means that the increase in a
factor causes a domino effect which will eventually lead to a further increase in that factor. A
negative feedback loop is an increase in a factor leading to an eventual decrease in that factor.
Mitigating climate change is the idea of doing things to reduce the impact that climate change has.
One example of a positive feedback loop in the carbon cycle, is the increase in CO2 in the
atmosphere leads to permafrost melting meaning decaying organic matter begins to decompose,
which in turn releases more CO2. This shows us that the enhanced greenhouse effect that is
happening because of us, is leading to a domino effect which is causing even further warming. In
turn international agreements like the Paris agreement are being put in place to try keep the
temperatures low, this should in turn help reduce the melting of permafrost, one negative of these is
that often the biggest contributors to emissions (like Russia and USA) don’t join the agreements so
that they can continue to economically grow, while others growth is stunted due to following the
agreements, this could eventually lead to rising tensions among countries.
Feedback loops play a big role in the Amazon, one example of a negative feedback loop is the
increase in CO2 caused by humans is causing a surge in photosynthesis, this increases growth rates
meaning that even more CO2 is absorbed by trees, However, deforestation of the Amazon which is
happening at huge rates means that less carbon is being absorbed by trees, and the deforested trees
turn from a carbon sink into a carbon source. Furthermore, the land replacing the deforested areas
is almost all used for farming (95%) where either the replacement crops don’t absorb as much
carbon, or the animals release huge amounts of greenhouse gases. In reaction people are trying to
mitigate the impacts this is having by modifying deforestation, where selective logging and
replanting is done over the slash and burn technique. This not only removes the aspect of
combustion which leads to an increase in CO2 in the atmosphere, but also selective logging can help
improve the growth of the rainforest evidence of modifying deforestation can be seen in brazil
where there has been a massive reduction of deforestation in the Amazon.
Another way people are trying to mitigate the effects of climate change is through carbon capture
and storage. This is believed to be able to cut CO2 emissions by 90% by storing carbon in rocks for
hundreds of years. However, for many countries this is too expensive so cant be seen as a viable
option, furthermore it is likely to be seen as a better alternative to renewable energy for many which
it is not.
In conclusion, it can be seen that understanding positive feedback loops, can show us the
devastating impacts we are having on the planet, which can be seen from the melting of Permafrost,
however I believe understanding that the increase of CO2 caused by us may eventually lead to a
decrease in CO2 in some cases, could lead to a too relaxed outlook by many meaning that the
mitigation techniques wont be enough in the long term, Overall I would say that the understanding
of feedback loops is a positive.
