Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Life Science to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Life Science to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
Diagram 1.
Source: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/23042015/thawing-permafrost-arctic-slow-giant-carbon-release/
Permafrost refers to permanently frozen ground found across the Arctic, sub-Arctic, and high-mountain regions. It stores enormous amounts of carbon - more than twice the amount currently in Earth’s atmosphere - locked away as frozen plant and animal material. As global temperatures rise, this frozen carbon reservoir begins to thaw, allowing microbes to break down organic material and release carbon dioxide
When permafrost thaws, organic matter that has been frozen for thousands of years becomes available to decomposers. Microbial respiration releases
Thawing permafrost also affects the hydrosphere. Meltwater carries dissolved organic carbon into streams, lakes, and eventually the Arctic Ocean. Within these waters, some carbon is consumed by microbes and released as greenhouse gases, while other carbon becomes buried in sediments, connecting thaw processes to long-term carbon burial in the geosphere. Meanwhile, changes in soil conditions and nutrient release can influence plant growth in the biosphere. In some areas, vegetation may increase, removing some
Mathematical patterns illustrate these relationships. As thaw depth increases,
Thawing permafrost demonstrates how climate-driven changes in one Earth system cascade through others, altering the movement of carbon across the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere. It also highlights the importance of mathematical representation in understanding carbon cycling feedback loops that influence Earth’s climate system.
Table 1.
Thaw Depth cm | CO | CH |
|---|---|---|
10 | 1.2 | 0.08 |
20 | 2.1 | 0.15 |
30 | 3.4 | 0.25 |
40 | 4.6 | 0.38 |
50 | 6 | 0.52 |
Graph of Information - Figure 1.
Table 2.
Year | Frozen Carbon Gt | Annual Emissions Gt |
|---|---|---|
2000 | 1500 | 0.4 |
2005 | 1480 | 0.6 |
2010 | 1460 | 0.9 |
2015 | 1430 | 1.3 |
2020 | 1400 | 1.9 |
Graph of Information - Figure 2.
According to Table 1, at what thaw depth does CO
Using Table 1 and Figure 1, describe how increasing thaw depth affects both CO
Using Diagram 1 and the reading, explain how thawing permafrost contributes to a positive feedback loop involving carbon transfer among Earth’s systems.
Based on Table 2, in which year did annual emissions reach 1.3 Gt?
Using Table 2 and Figure 2, describe the relationship between frozen carbon storage and annual emissions from 2000 to 2020.
Use mathematical representations to explain how permafrost thaw alters carbon cycling among the geosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere.
Respond using Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning.