Assess the impact of natural changes to the carbon cycle upon life on Earth. (9)
- Natural causes of change:
- Volcanic activity
- Wild fires
- Global warming
- Global cooling
Further details:
- Global Warming – more CO2 = hotter seas hold less carbon, warming = more evaporation =
more water vapour in atmosphere = more greenhouse effect. Hotter seas are more saline
which results in decomposition of coral and other carbon-based organisms, this releases
CO2.
- Global Cooling – less CO2 = cooler seas hold more carbon, cooling = less evaporation = less
water vapour in atmosphere = less greenhouse effect. Cooler seas are less saline = coral
repair and growth = more intake of carbon = further cooling.
- Wild fires – release of CO2 stored in trees = further warming = further risk of fires = less
intake of CO2 as a result of deforestation.
Eustatic change:
The process of landmasses being elevated or depressed through glacial activity. For example, a
glacier depressing the land below sea level is caused by the weight of the glacier pressing into the
earth’s crust. This results in a submergent landform.
- Natural causes of change:
- Volcanic activity
- Wild fires
- Global warming
- Global cooling
Further details:
- Global Warming – more CO2 = hotter seas hold less carbon, warming = more evaporation =
more water vapour in atmosphere = more greenhouse effect. Hotter seas are more saline
which results in decomposition of coral and other carbon-based organisms, this releases
CO2.
- Global Cooling – less CO2 = cooler seas hold more carbon, cooling = less evaporation = less
water vapour in atmosphere = less greenhouse effect. Cooler seas are less saline = coral
repair and growth = more intake of carbon = further cooling.
- Wild fires – release of CO2 stored in trees = further warming = further risk of fires = less
intake of CO2 as a result of deforestation.
Eustatic change:
The process of landmasses being elevated or depressed through glacial activity. For example, a
glacier depressing the land below sea level is caused by the weight of the glacier pressing into the
earth’s crust. This results in a submergent landform.
