1. The figure above uses unit of PgC or PgC/yr, whereas other figures use ppm fo
ID: 293122 • Letter: 1
Question
1. The figure above uses unit of PgC or PgC/yr, whereas other figures use ppm for atmospheric concentrations (and ppm/yr for trends). 2.12 PgC is approximately 1 ppm. Convert the current (as of the date of this figure) atmospheric carbon reservoir into the concentration in ppm. Round to the nearest whole number.
2. What was the pre-industrial concentration in ppm (based on the figure at the top of the quiz)? Round to nearest whole number.
3. If all of the carbon emitted so far due to fossil fuel usage had remained in the atmosphere, what would the total current CO2 atmospheric concentration be in PgC? Assume that land and ocean carbon fluxes remain at their pre-industrial values.
4. Convert the concentration in the previous question to ppm. Round to the nearest whole number.
589 + 240 ±10 increase:4 PgCy) Net land flux a Net ocean flux 2.3 t0.7 Surface oceaniota 50, Marine to rivers 0.9 Burial 0.2 & deep sea 37,100 +155 ±30 carbon 1500-2400 Fossil fuel reserves Gas: 383-1135 Oil: 173-264 -1700 Ocean Coal:446-541 1,750 365 t30 Units Fluxes: PgCyr Stocks: PgCExplanation / Answer
1. Current atmospheric carbon reservoir as shown in the figure = 589 + 240 = 829 PgC
As 2.12 PgC is approximately 1 ppm,
Current atmospheric carbon reservoir = 829 / 2.12 = 391 ppm
2. The pre-industrial concentration as shown in the figure = 589 PgC
As 2.12 PgC is approximately 1 ppm,
The pre-industrial concentration = 589 / 2.12 = 278 ppm
3. If all of the carbon emitted so far due to fossil fuel usage had remained in the atmosphere, ocean carbon fluxes would have been 155 PgC lesser as shown in the figure and land carbon fluxes would have been 30 PgC more.
Therefore, the total current CO2 atmospheric concentration would be 589+240+155-30 = 954 PgC
4.
As 2.12 PgC is approximately 1 ppm,
the total current CO2 atmospheric concentration would be = 954 / 2.12 = 450 ppm
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