Glossary
Agricultural Practices
Methods used in farming that can contribute to carbon emissions, such as tilling soil (releasing soil carbon) or livestock methane production, and lead to soil degradation.
Example:
Certain agricultural practices, like extensive plowing, can disrupt soil structure and release stored carbon into the atmosphere.
Biogeochemical cycles
Pathways through which matter moves within the Earth's system, involving interactions between living organisms and the non-living environment.
Example:
The nitrogen cycle, phosphorus cycle, and carbon cycle are all examples of vital biogeochemical cycles that sustain life.
Carbon Exchange (Ocean)
The bidirectional movement of carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and the ocean, acting as a global CO2 buffer.
Example:
The ocean's capacity to absorb excess atmospheric CO2 is due to the continuous carbon exchange occurring at its surface.
Carbon cycle
The process by which carbon moves between the atmosphere, land, oceans, and living organisms, playing a key role in regulating Earth's climate.
Example:
Understanding the intricate balance of the carbon cycle is essential for addressing climate change.
Carbon sinks
Natural or artificial reservoirs that absorb and store carbon from the atmosphere, helping to regulate atmospheric CO2 levels.
Example:
Forests and oceans are crucial carbon sinks that play a vital role in mitigating climate change.
Cellular Respiration
The process by which organisms use glucose to produce energy (ATP), releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.
Example:
When you exhale, you are releasing CO2 that was produced by cellular respiration within your body's cells.
Closed system
A system where matter is neither created nor destroyed, but rather cycles through different forms within the system.
Example:
The Earth is a closed system for matter, meaning the water we drink today has been cycling through the planet for billions of years.
Decomposition
The process by which decomposers (like bacteria and fungi) break down dead organic matter, releasing carbon and other nutrients back into the soil and atmosphere.
Example:
The breakdown of a fallen log in a forest is a clear demonstration of decomposition at work, recycling nutrients.
Deforestation
The clearing of forests for other land uses, which reduces the number of plants available to absorb CO2 and can release stored carbon from the soil and biomass.
Example:
Large-scale deforestation in tropical regions contributes significantly to global carbon emissions.
Fast Cycle (Carbon)
The component of the carbon cycle associated with rapid carbon exchange involving living organisms, primarily through photosynthesis and respiration.
Example:
The daily uptake of CO2 by a tree and its subsequent release through respiration is part of the fast cycle of carbon.
Fossil Fuel Extraction
The process of removing fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and natural gas) from the Earth's crust, which, when burned, releases large amounts of stored carbon into the atmosphere.
Example:
Increased fossil fuel extraction and combustion since the Industrial Revolution have significantly contributed to rising atmospheric CO2.
Global warming
The long-term heating of Earth's climate system observed since the pre-industrial period due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth's atmosphere.
Example:
The melting of polar ice caps and rising sea levels are direct consequences of ongoing global warming.
Nonrenewable resources
Natural resources that are finite and cannot be replenished on a human timescale once they are used up.
Example:
Coal, oil, and natural gas are considered nonrenewable resources because their formation takes millions of years.
Photosynthesis
The process by which plants and other producers absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into glucose (energy) and oxygen using sunlight.
Example:
A dense rainforest performs massive amounts of photosynthesis, acting as a significant natural air purifier.
Sedimentation (Ocean)
The process where carbon, often in the form of calcium carbonate from shells and skeletons, sinks to the ocean floor and accumulates, forming long-term carbon storage.
Example:
Over geological timescales, the accumulation of marine organisms' remains through sedimentation can form vast limestone deposits.
Slow Cycle (Carbon)
The component of the carbon cycle associated with long-term carbon storage in dead organisms, fossil fuels, and sedimentary rocks over millions of years.
Example:
The formation of vast coal deposits deep underground is a prime example of the slow cycle of carbon.