Carbon stores and the long-term geological carbon cycle: Practice Questions

• a.The release of carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere through volcanic eruptions.
• b.Chemical weathering of silicate minerals by weak carbonic acid in rainwater.
• c.Terrestrial primary producers returning carbon to the atmosphere via respiration.
• d.Phytoplankton sequestering atmospheric carbon during photosynthesis, followed by the sinking of carbonate shells.

• a.They represent the transition from non-renewable to renewable energy sources in a country's mix.
• b.They are routes such as pipelines and shipping lanes that are prone to disruption, especially as conventional sources deplete.
• c.They refer exclusively to the internal electrical grids within developed nations.
• d.They are the chemical processes used to convert raw fossil fuels into secondary energy units.

• a.The expansion of peatlands in tropical regions due to increased rainfall, sequestering more carbon.
• b.The melting of permafrost leading to the release of methane, which further enhances the greenhouse effect.
• c.Increased rates of photosynthesis in forests due to higher atmospheric CO\(_2\) concentrations.
• d.Carbon taxation policies that encourage the transition to nuclear and wind power.

• a.Increased CO\(_2\) absorption lowers pH levels, risking crossing the critical threshold for the health of coral reefs.
• b.It leads to the rapid formation of sedimentary carbonate rocks, sequestering carbon faster.
• c.It causes the thermohaline circulation to accelerate, trapping more carbon in the deep ocean.
• d.It increases the efficiency of the biological pump by stimulating phytoplankton growth.

• a.France prioritizes coal mining to maintain energy independence, unlike the USA's focus on biofuels.
• b.France relies heavily on nuclear power for its primary energy, while the USA has a higher reliance on domestic fossil fuels.
• c.The USA has completely decoupled economic growth from fossil fuel consumption through solar power.
• d.Both countries rely almost exclusively on imported natural gas from the same Russian pipelines.

Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.