Geography

Changes in carbon stored in ice, oceans and the

biosphere
 Prior to the Industrial Revolution, the amount of ice stored on land, in oceans, and in the
biosphere was relatively balanced. However, human activity has tipped the balance, and
some carbon sinks have become carbon sources.
 Most of the Earth’s carbon is in rocks, but it is unavailable in the carbon cycle due to the
slow rate of turnover.
 The rest of the carbon is stored in the atmosphere, biomass, fossil fuels, and in oceans.
 2% in the atmosphere, 5% in biomass, 8% in fossil fuels, 85% in oceans
 Before the Industrial Revolution, the changes in the carbon cycle were infrequent volcanic
eruptions, seafloor spreading, and meteorite impacts.
 Some of the carbon that was deep underground has moved into the atmosphere due to the
burning of fossil fuels.
 An increase in global temperatures means ice stored in the polar regions and glaciated
areas will release methane as they melt, and carbon is an important component of methane
hence the level of carbon in the atmosphere will increase.
 Carbon is also stored in the biosphere, and as forest fires increase, the forest (which serves
as a carbon sink) is being destroyed.
Oceans

 In pre-industrial times, the Earth’s atmosphere contained 578 Pg of carbon. The

atmosphere now contains about 766 Pg of carbon. In contrast, the oceans contain about
38,000–40,000 Pg of carbon about 50 times more than the atmosphere.
 With climate change, the atmospheric carbon content is driving changes in the ocean
carbon content. The carbon content of both is rising.
 Due to the increase in carbon in the ocean, the water becomes acidified which endangers
marine life.
 30% of the carbon dioxide put in the atmosphere by humans has diffused into the oceans
and increases the water acidity.