Respiration (Short-term storage)
Carbon that is stored in plants, animals and all living things is released back into the atmosphere during the process of respiration. Energy is required for all living things to carry out life processes therefore stored glucose must be converted to energy by respiration. Oxygen is used to break down carbon stored as sugar for energy by the process of respiration. Carbon dioxide is released as a waste product back into the atmosphere C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O. With the combined effect of photosynthesis and respiration, plants absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they release.
Photosynthesis (Short-term storage)
Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere by plants during the process of …show more content…
With an increase number of people burning organic matter such as wood and paper, the amount of carbon dioxide that is given off into the atmosphere from combustion has increased.
Combustion (NZ 200 years ago)
In New Zealand 200 years ago land was cleared by fire, as it was quick and efficient, causing large amounts of carbon dioxide to be given off into the atmosphere. Fires were used as the main source of warmth and also as a cooking method. However with the population being around 100,000, the emissions of carbon dioxide from these routines were not substantial.
Fossil Fuels (Removal – Long-term storage – NZ Today)
Fossil fuels are formed over millions of years by the remains of organic matter. When a plant or animal dies the organic matter that does not decompose and get released back into the atmosphere, can get trapped in the earth as it bounds to the mineral surfaces of soil particles. The carbon stored in the soil organic matter slowly becomes buried deep below ground as it becomes less accessible to microbes. With high pressure and temperatures the organic matter is then converted to fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, which can stay in the earth for millions of years making it a long-term storage site for …show more content…
Shells and bones of marine organisms or any other solids that are drifting in oceans will slowly sink to the sea floor, taking carbon with them. These solids collect on the bottom of the ocean and become part of the long-term store of sediments in the ocean bed. The accumulations of carbon rich matter are physically and chemically changed as they are compressed and buried over a long period of time to form rock limestone. The carbon stored in these limestone sediments will stay locked up for millions of years. The carbon may be released if the sediments rise up to become dry land and expose the carbon rich rocks to
Carbon that is stored in plants, animals and all living things is released back into the atmosphere during the process of respiration. Energy is required for all living things to carry out life processes therefore stored glucose must be converted to energy by respiration. Oxygen is used to break down carbon stored as sugar for energy by the process of respiration. Carbon dioxide is released as a waste product back into the atmosphere C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O. With the combined effect of photosynthesis and respiration, plants absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they release.
Photosynthesis (Short-term storage)
Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere by plants during the process of …show more content…
With an increase number of people burning organic matter such as wood and paper, the amount of carbon dioxide that is given off into the atmosphere from combustion has increased.
Combustion (NZ 200 years ago)
In New Zealand 200 years ago land was cleared by fire, as it was quick and efficient, causing large amounts of carbon dioxide to be given off into the atmosphere. Fires were used as the main source of warmth and also as a cooking method. However with the population being around 100,000, the emissions of carbon dioxide from these routines were not substantial.
Fossil Fuels (Removal – Long-term storage – NZ Today)
Fossil fuels are formed over millions of years by the remains of organic matter. When a plant or animal dies the organic matter that does not decompose and get released back into the atmosphere, can get trapped in the earth as it bounds to the mineral surfaces of soil particles. The carbon stored in the soil organic matter slowly becomes buried deep below ground as it becomes less accessible to microbes. With high pressure and temperatures the organic matter is then converted to fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, which can stay in the earth for millions of years making it a long-term storage site for …show more content…
Shells and bones of marine organisms or any other solids that are drifting in oceans will slowly sink to the sea floor, taking carbon with them. These solids collect on the bottom of the ocean and become part of the long-term store of sediments in the ocean bed. The accumulations of carbon rich matter are physically and chemically changed as they are compressed and buried over a long period of time to form rock limestone. The carbon stored in these limestone sediments will stay locked up for millions of years. The carbon may be released if the sediments rise up to become dry land and expose the carbon rich rocks to