MUNI SCI 05 Carbon cycle Lukáš Dolák, MSc, PhD Content of the lecture 1. Carbon cycle, sources and emissions of 2. Carbon movement in the atmosphere 3. Course of C02 concentration 4. Carbon footprint Carbon cycle, sources and emissions of C02 light Carbon cycle • Carbon (C): the basic building block of organisms • The process of photosynthesis • Carbon storage in the Earth's crust => fossil fuels • Carbon release by burning => CO carbon dioxide--- j carbohydrates -—^ oxygen m ■ Time aleklett.wordpress.com, 2013; HN, 2014 Carbon cycle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWEvBLIUa2E (37,000) Fossil pool (10 000) Reactive sediments (6000) wikimedia.org, 2018 Reservoirs and sources of natural C02 • 1 Gt (gigatonne) = 1 billion tonnes = 1 000 000 000 000 kg • 100 million Gt: the Earth's crust - active volcanoes 0.3 Gt/year = 0.8% of anthropogenic C02 • 37 000 Gt: oceans and seas • 1440-1600 Gt: permafrost • 800 Gt: atmosphere (of which about 5% is anthropogenic) • 550 Gt: biosphere Reservoirs and sources of natural C02 • Long-term carbon reservoirs: - limestones, fossil fuels • Intermediate-term carbon reservoirs: - deep-sea sediments, soil, marshes • Short-term carbon reservoirs: - upper ocean, northern hemisphere forests, Amazonia - rainorests: 0.4 Gt/year (more than car traffic in the US in 2015) Vodslon, 2023 Reservoirs and sources of natural C02 Factors influencing C02 fluctuations - northern hemisphere: ^Hl — forests southern hemisphere: — ocean x atmosphere interaction Boreal forest (Alaska and Canada) Tropical rain forest ./jj (Amazon Basin and D Guyana Shield) '» .1 I Boreal forest (Russia) Tropical rain forest j?J-, -"j (Congo Basin) ,P 'rf'ti i Tropical rainforest ■\ ■ ^ (islands of Borneo - ■ and New Guinea) AUSTRALIA Frontier forest I Today 8,000 years ago (Earliest agriculture) nichakornb.weebly.com, 2024 Sources of anthropogenic C02 • Human respiration: approx. 240 kg/year = 0.00000000024 Gt • Humans (1990): 20 Gt • Humans (2023): 40.7 Gt (about 5% of total natural resources) • But! => total anthropogenic emissions of all greenhousegasses (GHGs) = 56 Gt C02ekv (2022) • Anthropogenic C02 emissions over the last 250 years: 2 355 Gt (= 8000 volcanoes) - increase >3.5 W/m2 = >2.4 °C The Greenhouse Effect Most radiation by the Earth's surface and warms it. Some solar radiation is reflected by the Earth and the atmosphere. is absorbed itf^B Some of the infrared radiation passes through the atmosphere. Some is absorbed and re-emitted in all directions by greenhouse gas molecules.The effect of this is to warm the Earth's surface and the lower atmosphere. Atmosphere Earth's surface Infrared radiation is emitted by the Earth's surface. Wikimedia Commons 2015 Sources of anthropogenic C02 according to sectors land use changes: ca 6% GHG emissions Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) 24% Industry Transport ecowarriorprincess.net, 2016 Anthropogenic C02ekv emissions (2022 - comparison) 2022 vs 1990 2022 vs 2005 2022 vs 2021 +34% -+1% Power Industry y +92% y Industrial Combustion and Processes y +95% y Buildings —► 0% —► Transport y +72% y Fuel Exploitation y +56% y Agriculture y +21% y Waste y +58% y All sectors y +62% y 0% +30/0 - 0% +22% -^ +5% +22% - +3% + 15% -^ +1% +32% -> +2% +27% -^ +1% Greenhousegasses emission report, 2023 Sources 34.4 GtC02/yr 87% 13% 5.3 GtC02/yr Sinks 17.3 GtC02/yr 44% 29% 11.6 GtC02/yr 22% 8.9 GtC02/yr Budget Imbalance: (the difference between estimated sources & sinks) 5% 1.9 GtC02/yr Sources of anthropogenic C02 • Transportation: - car: 100-150 g/km Emise C02 na vzdálenosti 10 km Jízda Najnovéjii vozy Hybrid Toyota Hybrid Toyota na kole $ naftovými motory Prius Priu« Pfug-in 122 g 53 g 940 g 700 g 230 g The countries with the Largest cumulative emissions 1850-2021 Billions of tonnes of C02 from fossil fuels, cement, land use and forestry Annual emissions-World (2020) Total GHG emissions China # USA Hi India C EU27 • Indonesia Russian Federation w Brazil International transport LULUCFC02 Fossil C02 FFI, CH4, N20, F-gases -3 0 6 ~r 9 ~l-1 12 15 GtC02e Emissions Gap Report, 2022 Annual global fossil emissions, billion metric tons of C02 Annual C02ekv emissions -World (1990-2022) Global GHG emissions for 1990-2020 and preliminary estimates for 2022 Billion metric tons of C02e ■ C02 (combustion) ■ C02 (non-combustion) ■ CH4 ■ HFCs ■ LULUCF N20 ■ NF3 BPFCs SF6 o i- W m Í U! IB S) 5, U P M W J LU IB I*- (0 5, () P W W í U! Ifl S) ft t) ř n Source: Rhodium Group Per capita C02 emissions, 2022 Our World in Data Annual C02 emissions -world (2022) Carbon dioxide (CQ2) emissions from fossil fuels and industry1. Land-use change is not included. No data Ot 0.11 0.21 0.51 It 2t 5t 101 201 : t= I I I ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Data source: Global Carbon Budget (2023); Population based on various sources (2023) OurWorldlnData.org/co2-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions | CC BY https://ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions Annual CO emissions2 -selected countries (1792-2022) Annual C02 emissions Carbon dioxide (C02) emissions from fossil fuels and industry1. Land-use change is not included. 10 billion t 8 billion t 6 billion t 4 billion t 2 billion t China 1792 1850 Data source: Global Carbon Budget (2023) United States India Russia Germany Brazil 1900 1950 2000 2022 OurWorldlnData.org/co2-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions | CC BY 1. Fossil emissions: Fossil emissions measure the quantity of carbon dioxide (C02) emitted from the burning of fossil fuels, and directly from industrial processes such as cement and steel production. Fossil C02 includes emissions from coal, oil, gas, flaring, cement, steel, and other industrial processes. Fossil emissions do not include land use change, deforestation, soils, or vegetation. ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions, 2024 Carbon movement in the atmosphere Carbon movement in the atmosphere • The production of C02 and 02 has kept the atmosphere relatively stable over the last 500 million years - dynamic system balance (self-regulation processes) • The most important atmospheric cycles: - biological: respiration and photosynthesis (approx. 20 years) - geochemical: sedimentation on CaC03 (hundreds of millions of years) Carbon sinks • Weathering: - chemical reaction of rocks with atmospheric substances in the form of gases and dissolved sub stances in water (carbonation) • Dissolving in ocean water (binding to microorganisms) and precipitation (washing out by precipitation - pH 5.6) - decline in the ocean's ability to sequester C02: - 4% (2011-2020) Weathering Carbon sinks-soil -Storage of carbon in the soil air, in the form of humus, living organisms, etc. - rapid oxidation of carbon with increasing temperature and precipitation (low carbon content in the tropics) - decline in soil C02 fixation capacity: -17% (2011-2020) -Soil under steppe stores more carbon than forests in the long term Carbon sinks - vegetation • Vegetation through photosynthesis: 19 Gt/year — the world's peatlands: twice more C02 than all the forests on Earth (3% of the land cover) — 1 ha of peatland in Indonesia: approx. 201C02 /year • 1 ha of spruce forest in the central Europe: — captures 71 C02/year (equivalent to 70 000 km of driving a car) — releases 151 of 02 (the equivalent of 1 person's oxygen for 1 year) • To absorb all anthropogenic C02, it would be enough to reforest an area the size of Asia and North America... Carbon sinks and releases geochemical cycle Plate Tectonic Theory Plate tectonics: - uneven recycling of the Earth's crust, hydrosphere and part of the atmosphere Subduction: - absorption of carbon, suplphur, fossil fuels, etc. out of the atmosphere © Divergent Plate Boundary @ Convergent Plate Boundary Lithosphere (Mantle) Crusl Carbon sinks and releases -geochemical cycle • Volcanic eruptions (releases): - unexpected entry of "buried" C02 into the atmosphere - the absence of limestone 3 billion years ago - no C02 as a part of volcanic eruptions Human emissions: IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (2022)_Volcanic emissions: USGS Carbon biological pump Transfer of a substance (C02) by organisms between different environments Deposition of atmospheric C02 by calcic algae in the of shells After death, sinking of the calcic algae to the bottom and C02 accumulation in the lithosphere |co2 Bernard et al. 2009 Carbon biological pump-example The area of the Atlantic Ocean between Scotland and Iceland: - algae of the genus Emiliania - phosphorus and nitrogen rich upwelling streams - strong winds, especially during winter storms, remove the upper ocean layer and facilitate the ascent of nutrient-rich currents - algae overgrowth - shell formation - die-off -sinking to the bottom - limestone formation alga of the genus Emiliania Taylor, 2011 Carbonation process • Formation of carbonates (CaC03, FeC03, etc.) by synthesis of C02 dissolved in water with weathering products containing Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, K (alkalis) • Negative feedback leading to global temperature derease CARBONATE MINERALS lower C02 concentration and GeoScience Network, 2022 Carbonation process • Inorganic feedback: - intense weathering of rocks in warm climates - C02 binding by alkalis and carbonate formation - weakening of the greenhouse effect - decrease in air temperature and intensity of weathering - reduced C02 binding by alkalis - strengthening of the greenhouse effect - increase in temperature... Course of C02 concentration Course of CO Measured in ppm (parts per million) 800 000 years before the Industrial Revolution: 180-280 ppm (0.028%) 1993: 360 ppm (0.036 %) 7. 3. 2023: 420.85 ppm (0.042 %)= Pliocene (3 million years ago) Annual increase: approx. 2-3 ppm Forecast 2100: 900 ppm Safe level of C02: 350 ppm Mar. 7, 2023 420.85 ppm Mar. 7, 2022 417.88 ppm 1 Year Change 2-97 ppm (0.71%) en.co2.earth/ 2022 Keeling CUrve Graphical representation of the average gl< atmospheric C02 concentration since 1958 £ Q. Q. O H—» c CD o c o o IN O O 440 430 420 410 400 390 380 370 360 350 340 330 320 310 Carbonc^^ arbor, dioxiae concem^uu.. a> —- ........, ,,,........ j- Full record ending March 8, 2024 L *Mauna Kea data in blue UC San Diego | 0^anocraphy J keelingcurve. Course of C02 and mean air temperature (0-2017) es.earthednet.org, 2017 Carbon budget • The amount of C02 that humankind can emit before global temperature rises by 2.0°C compared to pre-industrial levels • 1000 Gt C02 (2011) • Threshold year for emission reductions: 2020 • Carbon neutrality: 2050 — humankind emits only as much C02 as ecosystems can capture - decarbonising the global economy without fossil fuels — 2050: achieving neutrality for a 1.5°C global mean temperature rise — 2070: achieving neutrality for not exceeding the global mean temperature by 2.0°C THE U.S. COMMITTED TO A 2050 TARGET. with a 50%-52% reduction emissions by 2030, after rejoining the Paris Agreement in 2027. SWEDEN'S 20A5 TARGET is the earliest commitment enshrined in law. CHINA'S 2060 TARGET is one of the most impactful, covering an estimated 25% of global emissions. Which countries have made a carbon neutral pledge? MEXICO AND OTHER MEMBERS of the Carbon Neutrality Coalition agree to target net zero emissions by 2050. URUGUArS 2030 TARGET (under discussion) is the earliest carbon neutral pledge 2035 2040 2045 2050 2060 2050-2100 Achieved visualcapitalist.com, 2021 Carbon neutrality Net Zero Pledges by Top 10 Coal Generating Countries © 2060* • 1 China 4631 TWh © 2070* 2 India 947 TWh © 2050 • 3 United States 774 TWh © 2050 • 4 Japan 274 TWh © 2050 5 South Korea 192 TWh 2050 6 South Africa 191 TWh 2050 7 Indonesia 168 TWh* 2060* 8 Russia 155 TWh © 2050 O 9 Vietnam 141 TWh © 2050 • 10 Australia 135 TWh Source: Ember Global Electricity Review 2021. *2019 data Generation in 2020 EMBER Carbon footprint Carbon footprint - definition • A measure of the impact of human activity on the environment (climate) • Amount of greenhouse gases emitted by daily consumption (electricity use, transport, services, etc.) expressed in C02ekv • Primary (direct) footprint: the amount of C02 released by burning fossil fuels, direct checking • Secondary (indirect) footprint: the amount of C02 released during the life cycle of products Carbon footprint https://www.carbonfootprint.com/ https://uhlikovastopa.cz/kalkulacka Carbon Footprint (Kg C02-eq) KEY ESG Scope 2 Indirect Scope 1 Direct Non-electric fleet Heavy load vehicles Manufacturing fuels Air conditioning Scope 3 Indirect Hotels In-work travel Commuting Home working Additional goods & services Natural gas How to reduce own carbon footprint No car use: 2.4 tonnes C02/year/person Non-flying: 1.6 tonnes C02 /year/person Use of renewable energy sources for heating and lighting at home: 1.5 tonnes C02/year/person Carbon Footprint of a 200 Mile Trip pounds of C02e emitted per passenger Car (1 pax) Plane Car (4 pax) Train Tour Bus B3 SUSTAINABLE VWj TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL Source: salatovelisty.cz/, 2017 How to reduce own carbon footprint Four best ways to reduce the carbon footprint from your food m © Eat less meat and f animal products Eat seasonally |fp| Reduce food waste Avoid airfreighted foods Reduction of meat consumption by 50% (reduction of emissions by 40%): 0.8 tonnes C02 /year/person myemissions.green, 2024 How to reduce own carbon footprint • Washing in cooler water (at 30 °C): 0.247 tonnes C02/year/person • Recycling: 0.2125 tonnes of C02/year/person • Replacing light bulbs with energy saving ones: 0.1 tonnes C02/year/person What to carry off from the lecture • Carbon cycle is one of the best-studied Earth cycles despite not everything being known • Anthropogenic C02 emissions represent only 5 % of all carbon emissions • Imbalance of the carbon cycle caused by humans is already changing the climate What to carry off from the lecture • Power industry, industry and agriculture with forestry are the main sectors emitting C02/GHG emissions • Concentration of global C02 emissions still grows but its rate slows down • C02 emissions in the EU have been declining since 1980s What to carry off from the lecture • C02 concentrations have fluctuated significantly in the past, but without human influence • Of the short-term C02 sinks, soil and forests are important for C02 sequestration • Reducing air travel, travel by car travel with 1 passenger, reducing energy loss of buildings or cutback meat-based diets have a significant impact on decrease of own carbon footprint Literature and sources • Daily CQ2 co2.earth/daily-co2 • Keeling curve keelingcurve.ucsd.edu/ • Our world in data: CQ2 emissions ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions Thank you for your attention