DPBioY2 - 2020 - 4.3 Carbon Cycling
DPBioY2 - 2020 - 4.3 Carbon Cycling
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DPBioY2 - 2020 - 9.3 Plant Growth
DPBioY2 - 9.3 Plant Growth 2 marks for your questions 3 marks for your reply 2 marks for submitting by July 16th, 2020
1. Does peat have a negative impact on the environment since the organic matter can't be digested?
ReplyDelete2. What exactly methanogenesis? I'm confused if it the explanation on how methane is produced or something else.
3. Why do increased carbon dioxide concentrations also increase the global temperature?
To answer your 3rd question,
DeleteAn increase in CO2 causes an increase in global temperature because the molecules absor infrared radiation.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/carbon-dioxide-and-climate/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20theory%2C%20carbon,sun's%20energy%20to%20the%20earth.
2. Methane is produced from organic carbon compounds in anaerobic conditions. Anaerobic conditions occur in waterlogged land. Methanogenic archaeans partially break down organic compounds to form methane. Methane can accumulate in the ground or diffuse into the atmosphere. So the methanogens are responsible to move the excess hydrogen and fermentation and convert it. (from what i understand)
Deletehttps://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Microbiology/Book%3A_Microbiology_(Boundless)/8%3A_Microbial_Evolution%2C_Phylogeny%2C_and_Diversity/8.15%3A_Euryarchaeota/8.15C%3A_Methane-Producing_Archaea_-_Methanogens#:~:text=Methanogens%20are%20responsible%20for%20the,other%20forms%20of%20anaerobic%20respiration.
To answer your first question,
DeleteWhen peat is burned it can release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This adds to too much Co2 in the atmosphere.
Source: https://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/for-peats-sake.html#:~:text=When%20peat%20is%20burned%2C%20it%E2%80%99s%20like%20burning%20coal%3B,of%20primary%20concern%20in%20relation%20to%20global%20warming.
1. What is the process of methane production by anaerobic organisms?
ReplyDelete2. Would the rapid cutting down of trees that humans are doing increase the amount of time that it takes for methane to be converted in the stratosphere?
3. While I understand that humans increase the rate of the process, is the carbon from limestone and carbon deposits moving back into the atmosphere naturally over the years that would yield harmful effects?
To answer your first question,
DeleteMethanogenesis is the process which produces methane by methanogens which are only anaerobic organisms or archeons. As the textbook says there are three different groups or anaerobic organisms involved in the production of methane. One, the bacteria convert organic matter into organic acids, alcohol, H, and CO2. Two bacteria that use organic acids and alcohol to make acetate, CO2, and H. Three, archaeans that create methane from CO2, H, and acetate.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/methanogenesis#:~:text=Methanogenesis%20is%20the%20process%20of,%2C%20%26%20Klein%2C%202002).
2. Yes it would as cutting down treens and forests allow for less carbon dioxide to be made into oxygen, so if the trees diminish the gas will remain in the atmosphere thus allowing for it to be created into methane
DeleteFor your third question,
DeleteErosion naturally moves carbon from the limestone into the atmosphere. If aquatic and terrestrial plants grow and produce at a natural rate then it would not yield harmful effects.
1. What would happen to the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere if the Amazon rain forest burned down?
ReplyDelete2. Do we use carbonic acid for anything specific?
3. Why is methane inflammable?
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteTo answer your 3rd question,
DeleteAside from being a colorless and odorless gas, methane gas is actually highly flammable, made of 1 Carbon atom and 4 Hydrogen atoms. When it gets burned in the presence of oxygen, CO2 and water vapor are released.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a28858699/what-is-methane/
For your second question,
DeleteCarbonic acid is used in drinks to make them "bubbly" (carbonated). Its also used in " pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, fertilizers, food processing, anesthetics, etc.".
Heres where I got my information, it has really cool facts!
https://www.softschools.com/formulas/chemistry/carbonic_acid_uses_properties_structure_formula/239/#:~:text=Uses%3A%20Carbonic%20acid%20is%20widely,food%20processing%2C%20anesthetics%2C%20etc.
For your first question, yes the Amazon Rainforest supposedly makes up 20% of the earth's oxygen, however if it were to burn down this wouldn't mean there would be a ridiculous effect on the oxygen levels in the atmosphere. The same thing goes for Carbon, where the decreased amount of plants will affect the carbon levels, but not too immensely.
DeleteThis article that I will link below talks about algae being a key "photosynthesizer", and in turn a key contributor to the Earth's oxygen and carbon levels. These plants take the CO2 in from the atmosphere and release it into the hydrosphere (ocean). However, even though the idea of losing the immense amount of trees that make up the Amazon sound like they would have a major impact on carbon levels in the atmosphere, the main factor that would impact levels would be the literal burning of the forests. Hypothetically, if the massive rainforest were to burn down, the CO2 released from the fires would immediately increase carbon levels and contribute to climate change.
Here's the link!
https://www.britannica.com/story/what-happens-to-earth-if-the-amazon-rainforest-is-completely-burned
What is methanogensis and why is it important in the environment?
ReplyDeleteHow does the oxidation process of methane work?
Can carbon dioxide influence the pH of any other liquids?
How can carbon dioxide both dissolve or combine with water?
How long until we run out of crude oil deposits?
For your last question,
DeleteAt the rate we are consuming fossil fuels oil deposits could run out in approx. 53 years, gas in about 52 years, and coal deposits in 150 years.
https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/our-green-energy/energy-independence/the-end-of-fossil-fuels#:~:text=Globally%2C%20we%20currently%20consume%20the,in%20just%20over%2053%20years.
To answer your 3rd question,
DeleteCarbon dioxide combines with water to create carbonic acid and make the liquid acidic. When there's a high concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood, the pH of the blood lowers to become more acidic, which is known as acidosis.
https://ethanolrfa.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Module-2-Handout-How-Inhaled-CO2-Affects-the-Body-%E2%80%93-Fact-Sheet.pdf
1. methanogensis is when methane is produced from any organic matter within anaeribic conditions. This is important as they remove excess hydrogen and ferentation products produced by other anaerobic respirations
DeleteTo answer your fourth question,
DeleteCarbon dioxide dissolves in seawater and then the carbon dioxide combines with the water to create carbonic acid. I found a source that said carbon dioxide is just really soluble in water.
Here are the two sources I used if you want more information:
https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/ocean-coasts/ocean-acidification#:~:text=Carbon%20dioxide%20and%20seawater%20Carbon%20dioxide%2C%20which%20is,ions%20%28H%20%2B%29%20and%20bicarbonate%20ions%20%28HCO%203-%29.
http://help.bioworldusa.com/kb/algae-treatment/water-analysis-dissolved-carbon-dioxide-co2
For your last question,
DeleteProjections state that at our current global consumption rate of crude oil is placed at 4 billion tons of year. If this rate is continued annually, we would run out of crude oil from known deposits in 53 years. I view this more as a positive thing since fossil fuels will not be able to be created, greedy corporations will be naturally forced to look towards green energy sources that would benefit all ecosystems of our Earth and preserve its life forms.
In regards to your second question, methane oxidation is a chemical reaction facilitated by methanotrophs (aka methanogens) that converts CH4 (methane) into CO2 and H2O. Ultimately, this generates energy for these microbes and reduces the amount of CH4 in the atmosphere. The textbook simplifies the reactions because there are many but here is a source I found with more complete information: http://puccini.che.pitt.edu/~karlj/Classes/CHE400/lecture19_web.pdf
Delete1. How can carbon be locked into limestone and be released as co2 in the atmosphere?
ReplyDelete2. How is inorganic co2 returned to the ecosystem?
3. How long until be run out of oil and gas?
4. If all the forest burned down would there be another solution to reduce the co2 levels in the atmosphere, without the use of trees?
For your second question,
DeleteCarbon dioxide can go into the soil and by interacting with the different minerals present, it can create inorganic carbonates. In water, carbon dioxide can collect and be buried under sediment, so that is broken down back to inorganic carbon.
https://www.nature.com/scitable/content/the-carbon-cycle-14667852/#:~:text=(A)%20Photosynthesis%20in%20land%20plants,through%20plant%20and%20soil%20respiration.&text=These%20carbonates%20do%20not%20exchange,exported%20to%20the%20coastal%20ocean.
To answer your 3rd question,
DeleteWe have around 53 years according to the site below.
https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/our-green-energy/energy-independence/the-end-of-fossil-fuels#:~:text=Crude%20oil%20reserves%20are%20vanishing,in%20just%20over%2053%20years.
To answer your 4th question,
DeleteI found a pretty cool source that said volcano ash could possibly help reduce Co2 levels.
A quote from the source is, "Most volcanoes lie close to the oceans, and every year millions of tons of volcanic ash falls into them and settles to the seafloor. Once there, it increases carbon storage in marine sediments and reduces atmospheric CO2 levels. This is important because the oceans are the greatest sink of manmade CO2 on Earth"( University of Southampton). I thought this was very interesting and might be a solution if a ton of trees did burn down from the fires.
Here is the source I used if you want to read more:
https://phys.org/news/2020-09-volcanic-ash-carbon-dioxide-climate.html
For your first question, marine organisms absorb carbon dioxide from their environment, then the CO2 transformed to calcium carbonate (what their shells are made of). When the animals die the shells build up on the ocean floor, then non-porous sedimentary rock forms on top of shells. Heat and pressure cause the organic matter to be transformed into energy-dense hydrocarbons (limestone). The CO2 being trapped in the limestone is biosequestration. The CO2 in the limestone is released into the atmosphere by mining it, or erosion.
Delete1. What is monatomic oxygen?
ReplyDelete2. What about acidic conditions allow saprotrophs and methanogens allow them to live there?
3. Are there any benefits of combustion? If so, what are they?
1. Monatomic oxygen is when ultraviolet light splits O2 into just an atom of oxygen.
DeleteFor your last question,
DeleteI couldn't seem to find much on this question. In the context of environmental effects, combustion does not seem to benefit it. This website really breaks down each type of combustion and its specific effect on the environment: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/publications/efficiency/industrial/cipec/6695
In regards to your second question, while I was not able to research a direct answer, I can make a conjecture as to why this might be. In order for something to be acidic, there must be a high level of H+ presence. Hydrogen ions are often found in living things and on/near biological molecules. Saprotrophs and methanogens can only be viable if they have a food source, which is decaying organic matter. Organic matter is acidic, thus this would reasonably be the ideal conditions for these organisms.
Delete1. How has the acidification of the ocean affected the survivability of oceans?
ReplyDelete2. Have any aquatic ecosystems evolved to withstand the acidification of the water?
3. How are scientists trying to prevent the acidification of water, do they plant more aquatic plants?
4. How does the increased presence of methane gas in the air affect oceans?
5. Is there an inorganic way to speed up the process of making fossil fuels?
For your first question
DeleteOcean acidification yields harmful effects on ocean life. Organisms who have shells nd skeletons formed of calcium carbonate have to spend extra energy to thicken and repair their calcium carbonate structures since the acidic conditions dissolve them at a quicker rate. Many marine organisms like coral, clams, sea urchins, barnacles, and plankton all rely on stable equilibrated pH and chemical levels. When this balance is disrupted through the acidification of the oceans, homeostasis and stability suffer major issues disrupting the survivability of the oceans.
Source: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/quick-questions/how-does-ocean-acidification-affect-marine-life.html
For your last question,
DeleteBurning fossil fuels are heavily disruptive and harmful for Earth's balance. So, alternative fuels that do not emit a large C02 foot print are being investigated. As for an inorganic way to make fossil fuels, it simply isn't plausible. Fossil fuels have been compressed and formed over millions of years to create a stable energy source. To artificially replicate those possesses would require mass amounts of energy. The energy then subsequently gained from burning those fuels would not equal the amount of energy dedicated to making those fuels in the first place. The future is filled with green energy, wind, hydraulics, etc.
In regards to your fourth question, methane in the ocean does not largely come from increased amounts of methane in the air. Rather, methane in the ocean is largely found in the form of methane hydrates, which is a similar fossil fuel source to coal. These methane hydrates, however, are created by peat produced from saprotroph bacteria in anaerobic conditions. These methane hydrates, however, could result in catastrophic conditions-- as the carbon source on Earth runs lower each year, there have been discussions about using these methane hydrates as sources of fossil fuels. This would be worse for the environment than the use of carbon because of the large content of methane and how methane traps heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
DeleteThis is Claire.
ReplyDelete1. Is peat inherently bad for the environment?
2. What is the ideal pH for the ocean to be at?
3. What is the impact of limestone production on the environment?
To answer your second question, Ocean water is normally slightly basic, with a surface-water pH of about 8.2, but that has declined in recent years to about 8.1.
DeleteTo answer your third question, Large charges reduce whole areas of limestone to rubble, which is removed for use as crushed stone. The noise, dust, and impact from explosions can result in noise pollution and dust. Underground forces from the blasts can cause sinkholes or change the drainage and water quality of underground aquifers.
DeleteFor your first question, peat is not very eco-friendly and as it is used by gardeners for their plants, some consider it a lose, lose situation. When mining peat, greenhouse gases are emitted from draining the peat bog (huge wetland where peat most commonly resides) as the peat releases carbon and methane. Once peat spreads onto the gardens, it quickly turns into carbon dioxide, adding more greenhouse gas levels. Finally, when you take peat from the bogs they are extremely hard to restore and risk losing the biodiversity of the bogs.
Deletehttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/green-living-blog/2012/apr/05/gardeners-peat-carbon
1) Is methane gas harmful to humans?
ReplyDelete2) Why is carbonic acid a weak acid?
3) What are some monatomic elements?
To answer your third question, Monatomic or monoatomic elements are elements that are stable as single atoms.The noble gases that exist as monatomic elements are helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), radon (Rn)and oganesson (Og).
DeleteTo answer your first question at high rates of carbon dioxide yes methane gas can be harmful to humans because it replaces o2 making o2 harder to breathe in.
DeleteTo answer your second question carbonic acid is a weak acid because not only is the conjugate base of a strong acid considered weak.
Delete1. Are autotrophs the only way which carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere into the air
ReplyDelete2. What environments is Methogenisis most common.
For your second question, this process usually occurs in freshwater / marine environments (so water environments) where the free-living organisms are habituated near hydrothermal vents and cold sediments.
Deletehttps://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/methanogenesis#:~:text=Methanogens%20occur%20in%20freshwater%20and,that%20promote%20anaerobic%20methane%20oxidation.
1. What is the greenhouse effect?
ReplyDelete2. Where is peat located (geographically and physically as a part of land)?
3. Where is the most amount of carbon stored and how does that compare to the place where the most amount of oxygen is stored?
4. What impact would an increase of methane in the atmosphere have?
5. (follow up to 4) How could we increase the amount of methane in the atmosphere?