The figure below represents a modified and simplified model of the Carbon Cycle.

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. Sources: Houghton, J. Jenkins, G., and Ephraums, J., 1990. Climate Change: The 1PCC 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. For each reservoir determine whether it is a sink, a source or in steady-state. Do not include the human-accelerated fluxes in your calculations. Show your work and don t forget units!!

Explanation / Answer

by calculating the resultant value of carbon that remains in each reservoir...we can determine is its a sink, source or in a steady state... basically : Resultant = Total output - Total Input.... If the value turns out to be positive which means its a source....if the value is less than zero (negative) then it will be a sink and if the value turns out to be ZERO (0) ... means the reservoir is in a steady state.... (If output > input = Source....and vice versa....).................... So for Atmosphere Total Output = Photosynthesis(50) + Diffusion to Ocean (92).................. Total Input = Burning (5) + Respiration (50) + Diffusion from soils (52) + and Diffusion from Ocean (90).... Resultant = -55 x 10^9 metric tonnes / year... So atmosphere is a Sink............. Similarly..... Carbonate Rocks = -1.4 x 10^9 Metric tonnes per year = Sink.............. Soils = 2 x 10^9 Met.Tons = Source............. Ocean = 0.12 x 10^9 Met. Tons per year = Source.............. Plants = 1 x 10^9 Met. Tons per year = Source................. Fossil Fuels = 1 x 10^9 Met. Tons per year = Source.............. ..................................... You Can refer to the labeling too ... for clarity....

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