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ES1110_Week1_CarbonCycleLabQuestions-1

Week1

Q Include your answers to the Carbon Cycle Laboratory questions and submit this file. All answers should be in your own words. Do not include quoted material. 1. (3 pts.) Conceptually, without running the simulation, predict what would happen to the atmospheric carbon level if the total amount of land vegetation decreased by 50 percent by 2100 (perhaps due to deforestation)? Explain your answer in 3–5 sentences. 2. (2 pts.) Based on the simulation results, compare the buildup of carbon in the ocean with what happens in soil. Which sink increases faster (the ocean or soil)? 3. (2 pts.) Identify at least two ways the carbon content in soil increases? In other words, how does carbon get into soil? 4. (2 pts.) How does the change in fossil fuel consumption relate to the change of carbon in terrestrial plants? 5. (3 pts.) How does the change in carbon emissions (the smokestack) relate to the carbon in the ocean surface? What impact could 50 years at this level of emissions have on marine fauna? On marine flora? 6. (2 pts.) Which sink/sources (i.e., atmosphere, terrestrial plants, soil, coal, soil and gas, surface ocean, or deep ocean) are most strongly (and quickly) affected by an increase in carbon emissions (and increase in fossil fuel consumption)?

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Answer: As per my knowledge, the atmospheric carbon level will be decreased in a large amount if 50% of vegetation is reduced. Plants have the ability to capture atmospheric carbon for the process of photosynthesis. Thus the carbon cycle in the environment can be balanced. If the 50% of the vegetation or amount of plant is reduced, they will have less power to capture all the atmospheric carbo, thus the carbon level will increase.