Assess the extent to which there are inter-relationships between processes in the water
cycle and factors driving change in the carbon cycle [20 marks]
There are some major links between processes in the water cycle and factors driving change
in the carbon cycle. These links mean that the two cycles can’t function without one another
and if one cycle is driven away from equilibrium, this will have knock on effects on the other.
These include decomposition and the fact that carbon can dissolve into large bodies of
water. However, there are some processes independent to the water cycle, including
evaporation and condensation. This means that there are inter-relationships between the
two cycles to a certain extent.
Decomposition is a factor that drives change within the carbon cycle that is closely linked to
processes in the water cycle. Decomposers, such as bacteria, require moisture from water in
the soils in order to break down dead plants and animals. Therefore, without the presence of
water from precipitation in the atmosphere or other sources, decomposition is not possible.
Decomposers also respire in order to survive, which means that a key carbon process can
only operate in the presence of water on soils and groundwater. The Amazon rainforest, for
example, contains ½ of the species in the world. Therefore, these plants need water in order
to survive and when they die, they transfer carbon from the biosphere to the atmosphere.
Without these two cycles, the Amazon rainforest would not be able to function. This shows
the extent to which there are inter-relationships between processes in the water cycle and
factors driving change in the carbon cycle.
The carbon and the water cycle are also linked by the oceans. 30% of carbon dioxide from
the atmosphere has diffused into the oceans, which creates carbonic acid and increases
ocean salinity. This process is called ocean acidification. Higher acidity in the sea increases
the amount of carbon that it can store, therefore reducing the amount of carbon in the
atmosphere. Carbon can also dissolve into precipitation in the atmosphere as the rain falls,
which creates carbonic acid and contributes to ocean acidification event further. This
potentially reveals another link between the major water stores and the factors driving
change in the carbon cycle.
cycle and factors driving change in the carbon cycle [20 marks]
There are some major links between processes in the water cycle and factors driving change
in the carbon cycle. These links mean that the two cycles can’t function without one another
and if one cycle is driven away from equilibrium, this will have knock on effects on the other.
These include decomposition and the fact that carbon can dissolve into large bodies of
water. However, there are some processes independent to the water cycle, including
evaporation and condensation. This means that there are inter-relationships between the
two cycles to a certain extent.
Decomposition is a factor that drives change within the carbon cycle that is closely linked to
processes in the water cycle. Decomposers, such as bacteria, require moisture from water in
the soils in order to break down dead plants and animals. Therefore, without the presence of
water from precipitation in the atmosphere or other sources, decomposition is not possible.
Decomposers also respire in order to survive, which means that a key carbon process can
only operate in the presence of water on soils and groundwater. The Amazon rainforest, for
example, contains ½ of the species in the world. Therefore, these plants need water in order
to survive and when they die, they transfer carbon from the biosphere to the atmosphere.
Without these two cycles, the Amazon rainforest would not be able to function. This shows
the extent to which there are inter-relationships between processes in the water cycle and
factors driving change in the carbon cycle.
The carbon and the water cycle are also linked by the oceans. 30% of carbon dioxide from
the atmosphere has diffused into the oceans, which creates carbonic acid and increases
ocean salinity. This process is called ocean acidification. Higher acidity in the sea increases
the amount of carbon that it can store, therefore reducing the amount of carbon in the
atmosphere. Carbon can also dissolve into precipitation in the atmosphere as the rain falls,
which creates carbonic acid and contributes to ocean acidification event further. This
potentially reveals another link between the major water stores and the factors driving
change in the carbon cycle.
