Carbon Source vs. Carbon Sink

THE CARBON CYCLE AND SOURCE VS. SINK

*NOTE: PLEASE TAKE A SCREENSHOT OF YOUR FINAL SCORE AND SUBMIT IT AS EVIDENCE IN THE EVIDENCE ASSIGNMENT HERE.

Carbon dioxide is entering the atmosphere through many different means. When carbon compounds are entering the atmosphere from somewhere, we call it a carbon source. When carbon compounds are removed from the atmosphere, we call that location a carbon sink. Carbon sinks take carbon compounds out of the atmosphere and lock them into some other Earth system. Carbon sources do the opposite. Carbon sources allow carbon to move out of one of the Earth’s systems into the atmosphere. 

Let’s take some time to revisit the carbon cycle and see a closer look at the modes of transfer, or the ways in which carbon transforms from one place to another. Below is a much more detailed diagram of the carbon cycle. In this diagram more processes are shown, but just like in all diagrams the basic understanding is still there. Arrows still show the movement of carbon. One big difference on this diagram are the reservoirs. A reservoir is a holding place for something. When we build a dam to hold back a river, we often call that a reservoir. When we are talking in terms of carbon, we are talking about the places where carbon is held or stored. 

Each reservoir in the diagram below is shown in purple. Each mode of transfer, or process is shown in red. Your task is to evaluate the diagram and determine which of the following processes lead to a carbon sink and which lead to a carbon source. Fill out the data table below with the correct information using the diagram as your guide.