Carbon model worksheet 1

A schematic of the organic and inorganic components of the modelled carbon cycle.

http://www.noc.soton.ac.uk/jmodels/images/wiki/cmodel.jpg
The aim of this carbon model worksheet is to analyse some of the properties of the carbon model.

Worksheet 1: Ocean carbon sink over the next 100 years

Various global change-related processes may alter the behaviour of the ocean carbon cycle. How significant will these human-induced changes be to the ocean’s ability to absorb anthropogenic CO₂? What difference will it make to the rise in atmospheric CO₂? The model allows you to implement of different scenarios for the future carbon cycle.

1. Run the model until year 2100, without fossil fuels. What is the atmospheric CO₂ concentration at the end of the run? Now add 4000 Gt C of fossil fuels between 1900 and 2300 AD. How high does atmospheric CO₂ go by year 2100?
2. Double the river flux of phosphorus. What impact does this have on year 2100 atm. CO₂?
3. Double the river flux of nitrate (this has an impact on alkalinity and therefore on atmospheric CO₂. What difference does this make to the rise in CO₂ by year 2100?
4. Halve the mixing strength between: (1) surface and middle boxes, (2) middle and deep boxes, and (3) both simultaneously. What affect do those changes have on atmospheric CO₂?

Once you have completed these questions, follow this link for the answers.

Other related pages

• Carbon model overview
• Carbon model details
• Carbon model pros
• Carbon model cons
• Phosphorus model overview

References

• Chuck, A. et al. (2005). The oceanic response to carbon emissions over the next century: investigation using three ocean carbon cycle models. Tellus B 57, 70-86.
• Tyrrell, T. (1999). The relative influences of nitrogen and phosphorus on oceanic primary production. Nature 400, 525–531.
• Tyrrell, T. et al. (2007). The long-term legacy of fossil fuels. Tellus B 59, 664-672.

External links

• Description of the chemical element carbon, Wikipedia
• Description of the carbon cycle, Wikipedia
• Description of the chemical element phosphorus, Wikipedia
• Description of the phosphorus cycle, Wikipedia