Question
The figure below represents a modified and simplified model of the Carbon Cycle. The reservoirs of the system are labeled with their name and the amount of carbon in the reservoir in the units of mass in billions of (109) metric tons. For example, the amount of carbon in the atmosphere is 735 times 109 metric tons. (Note: 1 metric ton = 1000 kg) The arrows represent the flux from one reservoir to another. The solid lines represent natural fluxes and dashed lines represent human-accelerated fluxes. The table below lists natural and human-accelerated fluxes within the system. The units of the fluxes is billions of metric tons per year. For example, the flux of photosynthesis by plants takes carbon from the atmosphere to plants at a rate of 102 times 109 metric tons/yr. The table below lists natural and human-accelerated fluxes within the system. The units of the fluxes billions of metric tons per year. For example, the flux of photosynthesis by plants takes carbon from the atmosphere to plants at a rate of 102 times 109 metric tons/yr. Sources: Houghton, J. Jenkins, G., and Ephraums, J., 1990. Climate Change: The IPCC Scientific Assessment. Cambridge Univ. Press (for UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). National Research Council, 1986. Global Change in the Geosphere-Biosphere. Washington: National Academy Press. What is the largest carbon reservoir? What is the smallest carbon reservoir? Do the answer surprise you? Why or why not?
Explanation / Answer
Largest Carbon Reservoir is Carbonate Rocks (100 Million x 10^9 Metric Tonnes)........ and Smallest are the Plants (560 x 10^9 Metric Tonnes)...... the second part is actually meant for thinking in such a way that..... yes this surprises us.... Although Plants exist all over the world but still they comprise the lowest part in the reservoirs....even when they are mostly made of carbon...
