IB Environmental systems and societies Topic 5.1D Soil as a Carbon Sink Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB Environmental systems and societies Topic 5.1D Soil as a Carbon Sink Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

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Soils Hold More Carbon Than the Atmosphere and Vegetation Combined

Soils store carbon in living organisms and dead organic matter, making them one of Earth's largest carbon reservoirs.
Global soils hold very roughly 1,500 to 2,400 GtC, more than the atmosphere and all vegetation combined.
A further large store, of similar magnitude, is locked in frozen permafrost.
Whether soil helps or harms the climate depends on the balance between carbon inputs and outputs.

Note

A store is the carbon held in the soil, a sink takes in more carbon than it releases, and a source releases more than it takes in.

How Carbon Enters and Leaves the Soil

Carbon In

Photosynthesis fixes atmospheric CO2 into plant biomass that enters the soil.
Dead plant and animal matter is mixed in and broken down by decomposers.
Root exudates and the bodies of soil organisms add further carbon.

Carbon Out

Microbial respiration converts soil organic carbon back into CO2.
Disturbances such as ploughing, drainage, and erosion expose carbon to oxygen and speed decomposition.

Hint

The single most important control is the rate of decomposition.
Slow decomposition builds a sink, while fast decomposition creates a source.

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Note

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Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

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Tip

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

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Soils Hold More Carbon Than the Atmosphere and Vegetation Combined

Soils store carbon in living organisms and dead organic matter, making them one of Earth's largest carbon reservoirs.
Global soils hold very roughly 1,500 to 2,400 GtC, more than the atmosphere and all vegetation combined.
A further large store, of similar magnitude, is locked in frozen permafrost.
Whether soil helps or harms the climate depends on the balance between carbon inputs and outputs.

Note

A store is the carbon held in the soil, a sink takes in more carbon than it releases, and a source releases more than it takes in.

How Carbon Enters and Leaves the Soil

Carbon In

Photosynthesis fixes atmospheric CO2 into plant biomass that enters the soil.
Dead plant and animal matter is mixed in and broken down by decomposers.
Root exudates and the bodies of soil organisms add further carbon.

Carbon Out

Microbial respiration converts soil organic carbon back into CO2.
Disturbances such as ploughing, drainage, and erosion expose carbon to oxygen and speed decomposition.

Hint

The single most important control is the rate of decomposition.
Slow decomposition builds a sink, while fast decomposition creates a source.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Topic 1: Foundation 3 subtopics

Topic 2: Ecology5 subtopics

Topic 3: Conservation and biodiversity3 subtopics

Topic 4: Water4 subtopics

Topic 5: Land2 subtopics

Topic 6: Atmosphere and climate change4 subtopics

Topic 7: Natural resources3 subtopics

Topic 8: Human populations and urban systems3 subtopics

HL lenses 3 subtopics

IB Environmental systems and societies 5.1D Soil as a Carbon Sink Notes

Topic 1: Foundation 3 subtopics

Topic 2: Ecology5 subtopics

Topic 3: Conservation and biodiversity3 subtopics

Topic 4: Water4 subtopics

Topic 5: Land2 subtopics

Topic 6: Atmosphere and climate change4 subtopics

Topic 7: Natural resources3 subtopics

Topic 8: Human populations and urban systems3 subtopics

HL lenses 3 subtopics

Soils Hold More Carbon Than the Atmosphere and Vegetation Combined

How Carbon Enters and Leaves the Soil

Carbon In

Carbon Out

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Soils Hold More Carbon Than the Atmosphere and Vegetation Combined

How Carbon Enters and Leaves the Soil

Carbon In

Carbon Out

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account