A model of the carbon cycle has three pools…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A model of the carbon cycle has three pools. The air holds units. Each year units go to the land plants and units dissolve in the ocean. The land holds units, and units go back to the air each year. The ocean holds units, and units go back to the air each year. Each pool is in balance.
- What is the mean residence time of the carbon in the air, in years? Give the answer to one decimal.
- What is the residence time in the land?
- What is the residence time in the ocean? Give the answer to one decimal.
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
Carbon has a gaseous cycle, with its reservoir in the atmosphere and the ocean. Phosphorus has a sedimentary cycle, with its reservoir in rock, and no respiratory release into the air. For a pool in balance, .
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Given. Air , outflow . Land , outflow . Ocean , outflow .
Plan. Use for each.
Step 1. (a) years.
Step 2. (b) years.
Step 3. (c) years.
Answer: years; years; years.
Check. The air has the smallest pool and the biggest outflow, so its carbon turns over fastest.
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