oceanic carbon pumps

Question 1

biological pump=

Answer 1

driven by ocean phytoplankton which absorbs co2

• these organisms are at the bottom of the food chain so are consumed by other organisms so co2 is transferred along the food chain
• when marine organisms die, their dead shells sink into deep water. decay releases co2 into the deep water

Question 2

physical pump=

Answer 2

• involves the movement of co2 from the atmosphere into the ocean by a process called diffusion
• cold water will take up more co2 and less will escape into the atmosphere(northern Atlantic and southern oceans act as major sinks of carbon)
• cold water is denser than warm water causing it to sink- this transports the co2 to deeper water by convection currents
• co2 is stored in the deep layers of the ocean
• warm water causing upwelling
• global warming means oceans aren’t good as carbon sinks=POSITIVE FEEDBACK