Carbon Storage in Biomes and Ecosystems
CARBON CYCLE 2:
biome storage
WJEC Focus Box 3.1.7
Eduqas Focus Box 2.1.7
We are grateful to Hodder for their
permission to use the diagrams in
this resource.
Carbon Cycle 2
Ecosystem carbon storage
•
When human activity is taken into account, the total
amount of carbon stored in the
terrestrial biosphere
is estimated to be approximately 3,000 GtC
•
Carbon is an essential plant
macronutrient
and
makes up approximately 44 per cent of the dry
weight of plant biomass
•
Organic carbon is stored in the biomass, leaf litter
and soil of terrestrial ecosystems and biomes
Class activity
Using prior knowledge, discuss the varying
plant characteristics
of different biomes, and the
implications of this for carbon storage
Carbon Cycle 2
Ecosystem carbon storage
Class activity
Why is the
biomass
(and carbon storage) of animals much
smaller than the plant biomass in an ecosystem?
Carbon Cycle 2
Global biomes
Class activity
Describe
and
explain
the distribution of (1) tropical rainforest
(2) temperate grassland
(c) Hodder Education [
AQA A-level Geography
(Skinner)]
Carbon Cycle 2
Tropical rainforest (1)
Class activity
The tropical rainforest has
five layers
of vegetation.
What are the
characteristics
of these layers?
•
Rainforest NPP averages around 2500 grams per
square metre per year, and the biomass is 700
tonnes per hectare; this reflects optimum climatic
conditions
•
In total, 550 GtC is stored in tropical rainforest
biomass and soil
•
Large forest trees store 180 tonnes of carbon per
hectare above ground and 40 tonnes of carbon per
hectare in their roots
Carbon Cycle 2
Tropical rainforest (2)
Class activity
The diagram
shows the
proportional
size of carbon
stores in the
tropical
rainforest;
describe
and
explain
the
differences
shown
Carbon Cycle 2
Temperate grassland (1)
Class activity
Research task: what are the main
characteristics
of the
vegetation in temperate grassland world regions?
•
The lack of rainfall is a major limiting factor preventing
the growth of thick forest cover. Instead, short
perennial (long-lived) grasses dominates the landscape
•
In total, 185 GtC is stored in temperate grassland
biomass and soil; temperate grassland typically stores
2-10 tonnes of carbon per hectare above ground and
double this amount is stored below ground as roots
•
The soil carbon store (consisting of humus, as opposed
to living roots) averages around 100-200 tonnes of
carbon per hectare
Carbon Cycle 2
Temperate grassland (2)
Class activity
The diagram
shows the
proportional
size of carbon
stores in the
temperate
grassland;
describe
and
explain
the
differences
shown
Carbon Cycle 2
Deforestation and carbon storage
•
Huge areas of Amazonia have been cleared for
commercial agriculture: deforestation averaged
around 17,500 km
2
per year 1970 -2013
•
Major crops such as soya beans are grown on old
rainforest soils in Brazil; the biomass of soya crop
cover is 2.7 tonnes per hectare compared with 180
tonnes per hectare for virgin rainforest
•
Oil palm cultivation takes place at the expense of
tropical rainforest cover.
Class activity
What are the implications of rainforest removal for the
operation of different carbon stores and flows?
Carbon Cycle 2
Deforestation and carbon storage
Class activity
The diagram
shows the
proportional
change in
carbon stores
and flows
following
rainforest
removal.
Describe
and
explain
the
changes
shown
(c) Hodder Education [
AQA A-level Geography
(Skinner)]
Carbon Cycle 2
Afforestation and carbon storage
Class activity
Who
could carry out afforestation? Think of different
scales
of action, from citizens to governments
•
New trees act as carbon sinks and can therefore help
with climate change
mitigation
•
New
monoculture
of commercial trees, such as
coniferous plantations in the UK, can increase carbon
storage if it replaces grassland
•
However, plantations store less carbon than natural
forest because monoculture forest lacks biodiversity
and provides few habitats for other species
Carbon Cycle 2
Agriculture and carbon storage
•
Clearing natural vegetation for agriculture brings a
large reduction in carbon storage; in many farmed
areas, soil carbon levels have fallen by 50 per cent
•
Soil erosion
occurred in the USA during the 1920s
and 1930s . In the Great Plains, wind erosion
stripped the top soil from 65 million hectares of
over-cultivated land, leading to an enormous loss of
soil carbon storage capacity
Class activity
What techniques could farmers use to
improve
carbon
storage? Think of irrigation, fertilisers or other actions
Carbon Cycle 2
Plenary
•
Carbon storage varies between biomes
•
Climatic controls including temperature, precipitation
and light are responsible for the large biomass carbon
store in tropical rainforest and the large soil carbon
store in temperate grassland
•
Deforestation has been occurring for thousands of
years and has reduced carbon storage at both
national and global scales
•
Afforestation can help with climate change mitigation
by increasing carbon sequestration and storage
•
Agriculture has both negative and positive effects on
carbon storage and flows
Explore the intricate carbon cycle within terrestrial ecosystems, focusing on carbon storage in biomass, litter, and soil. Delve into the differences in plant characteristics among various biomes and their impact on carbon sequestration. Gain insights into the distribution of tropical rainforests and temperate grasslands, shedding light on the biomass and carbon stored in these vital ecosystems. Uncover the unique layers of vegetation in tropical rainforests and the role they play in carbon storage.
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Presentation Transcript
CARBON CYCLE 2: biome storage Biomass Litter Soil We are grateful to Hodder for their permission to use the diagrams in this resource. WJEC Focus Box 3.1.7 Eduqas Focus Box 2.1.7
Carbon Cycle 2 Ecosystem carbon storage When human activity is taken into account, the total amount of carbon stored in the terrestrial biosphere is estimated to be approximately 3,000 GtC Carbon is an essential plant macronutrient and makes up approximately 44 per cent of the dry weight of plant biomass Organic carbon is stored in the biomass, leaf litter and soil of terrestrial ecosystems and biomes Class activity Using prior knowledge, discuss the varying plant characteristics of different biomes, and the implications of this for carbon storage
Carbon Cycle 2 Ecosystem carbon storage Green plants Nearly 20 per cent of carbon in Earth s biosphere is stored in plants, including root systems Animals These play a small role in carbon storage because the biomass of animals is much less than plant biomass Litter This is fresh and un-decomposed plant debris; it includes leaves, pine needles and twigs Humus is a black substance that remains in the soil after most of the organic litter has decomposed; it gets dispersed throughout the soil by earthworms Soil Class activity Why is the biomass (and carbon storage) of animals much smaller than the plant biomass in an ecosystem?
Carbon Cycle 2 Global biomes (c) Hodder Education [AQA A-level Geography (Skinner)] Class activity Describe and explain the distribution of (1) tropical rainforest (2) temperate grassland
Carbon Cycle 2 Tropical rainforest (1) Rainforest NPP averages around 2500 grams per square metre per year, and the biomass is 700 tonnes per hectare; this reflects optimum climatic conditions In total, 550 GtC is stored in tropical rainforest biomass and soil Large forest trees store 180 tonnes of carbon per hectare above ground and 40 tonnes of carbon per hectare in their roots Class activity The tropical rainforest has five layers of vegetation. What are the characteristics of these layers?
Carbon Cycle 2 Tropical rainforest (2) Class activity The diagram shows the proportional size of carbon stores in the tropical rainforest; describe and explain the differences shown Biomass Soil Litter
Carbon Cycle 2 Temperate grassland (1) The lack of rainfall is a major limiting factor preventing the growth of thick forest cover. Instead, short perennial (long-lived) grasses dominates the landscape In total, 185 GtC is stored in temperate grassland biomass and soil; temperate grassland typically stores 2-10 tonnes of carbon per hectare above ground and double this amount is stored below ground as roots The soil carbon store (consisting of humus, as opposed to living roots) averages around 100-200 tonnes of carbon per hectare Class activity Research task: what are the main characteristics of the vegetation in temperate grassland world regions?
Carbon Cycle 2 Temperate grassland (2) Class activity The diagram shows the proportional size of carbon stores in the temperate grassland; describe and explain the differences shown Biomass Soil Litter
Carbon Cycle 2 Deforestation and carbon storage Huge areas of Amazonia have been cleared for commercial agriculture: deforestation averaged around 17,500 km2 per year 1970 -2013 Major crops such as soya beans are grown on old rainforest soils in Brazil; the biomass of soya crop cover is 2.7 tonnes per hectare compared with 180 tonnes per hectare for virgin rainforest Oil palm cultivation takes place at the expense of tropical rainforest cover. Class activity What are the implications of rainforest removal for the operation of different carbon stores and flows?
Carbon Cycle 2 Deforestation and carbon storage Class activity The diagram shows the proportional change in carbon stores and flows following rainforest removal. Describe and explain the changes shown (c) Hodder Education [AQA A-level Geography (Skinner)]
Carbon Cycle 2 Afforestation and carbon storage New trees act as carbon sinks and can therefore help with climate change mitigation New monoculture of commercial trees, such as coniferous plantations in the UK, can increase carbon storage if it replaces grassland However, plantations store less carbon than natural forest because monoculture forest lacks biodiversity and provides few habitats for other species Class activity Who could carry out afforestation? Think of different scales of action, from citizens to governments
Carbon Cycle 2 Agriculture and carbon storage Clearing natural vegetation for agriculture brings a large reduction in carbon storage; in many farmed areas, soil carbon levels have fallen by 50 per cent Soil erosion occurred in the USA during the 1920s and 1930s . In the Great Plains, wind erosion stripped the top soil from 65 million hectares of over-cultivated land, leading to an enormous loss of soil carbon storage capacity Class activity What techniques could farmers use to improve carbon storage? Think of irrigation, fertilisers or other actions
Carbon Cycle 2 Plenary Carbon storage varies between biomes Climatic controls including temperature, precipitation and light are responsible for the large biomass carbon store in tropical rainforest and the large soil carbon store in temperate grassland Deforestation has been occurring for thousands of years and has reduced carbon storage at both national and global scales Afforestation can help with climate change mitigation by increasing carbon sequestration and storage Agriculture has both negative and positive effects on carbon storage and flows
