Carbon cycle
IPCC Report AR5 Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis, Chapter 6: Carbon and Other Biogeochemical Cycles fig 6.1 |
Contents |
Definition
AR5 Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability, Glossary, published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines the carbon cycle as: ‘...the flow of carbon (in various forms, e.g., as carbon dioxide) through the atmosphere, ocean, terrestrial and marine biosphere, and lithosphere.... the reference unit for the global carbon cycle is GtC or equivalently PgC (10^15g).’
Slow and fast domain carbon cycles
The IPCC distinguishes between slow carbon cycles of beyond 10,000 years, and those of 1–100 years and 10–500 years, known as fast carbon cycles.
Geological carbon cycles
The lithosphere carbon cycle, also known as the geological carbonate–silicate cycle is fully part of the slow carbon cycle and describes inert carbon in the lithosphere, much of which being the Earth's mantle from the beginnings of the Earth, with some from organic biosphere carbon. 80% is stored in limestone and in the calcium carbonate stored in the shells.
Oceanic carbon cycles
The oceanic or marine cycles cover both fast and slow cycles, with what is called the deep layer, a few hundred meters down, below the intermediate layer, this runs on carbon cycles over centuries or more, transferring carbon from the oceans to the floor of the ocean into sediments and the slow transfer to rock formations. The surface and intermediate layers of the oceanic cycle exchange carbon between marine biota, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved in-organic carbon (DIC) over shorter cycles as well as between the ocean surface and the atmosphere on daily cycles.
Atmospheric carbon cycles
The atmospheric carbon cycle runs of fast cycles exchanging gaseous carbon compounds, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2), as well as methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), and other man-made compounds between Earth's atmosphere, the oceans, and the terrestrial biosphere. Atmospheric concentrations of CO2 can remain stable over longer periods when a balance between flows exists. The burning of fossil fuels transfers carbon from the slow domain to the fast domain. Replenishment of carbon released from burning fossil fuels (and other terrestrial changes) through natural biogenic processes cannot occur quickly enough to rebalance the system, thus causing temperature rise.
Terrestrial biological carbon cycle
The terrestrial biological carbon cycle is the final and possibly most relevant cycle to human beings as this describes the fast domain cycle of carbon exchange relating to all land-living organisms both dead and alive, as well as in soils. This might also be referred to as the biogenic energy cycle as it refers to a system in balance between living things on Earth in the biosphere and its impacts on the atmosphere. It is also the result of changes in this balance caused by human activities resulting in imbalance in the system leading to temperature rise and climate change.
Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
Renovating Union Chain Bridge.
Robots in the construction industry
From cultural characterisations to construction sites.
Empowering construction with AI integration
New horizons with a human touch.
A Better Hiring Toolkit for construction
Tooling up to hire under best practice standards in the sector.
Recharging Electrical Skills in Wales
Step by step collaborative solutions.
Ireland budget announcement 2025
CIOB responds with positivity, criticism and clarity.
The continued ISG fall out, where to go?
Support for ISG contractors, companies and employees.
New HES national centre for traditional building retrofit
Announced as HES publishes survey results which reveal strong support for retrofit.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Expected to become one of the largest activities in the global construction industry.
Scope determination appeals and the Building Safety Act
Process explained following release of appeals guidance.
The ECA industry focus video channel
Keeping update with the industry session by session.
Over 25 recorded informations sessions freely available.
AT Awards 2024 ceremony East London October 25th.
Revisiting the AT community at the 2023 awards evening.
The Community Housing Fund and built affordable homes
CLTN reviews the impact of the Fund and calls for extension.
The grading system of the Regulator for Social Housing
A background, an explanation and ten recent enforcements.
Construction, repair and maintenance. Book review.
Putting new life into a city with a 1900 year history.
BSRIA Briefing 2024: Sustainable Futures speakers
Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living 22 Nov.