Carbon Cycle

Link to see a bigger picture of the CC :)

Carbon is the major chemical constituent of many organic compounds like fossil fuels.

Carbon is stored on our planet in the following major sinks:

(1) as organic molecules in organisms (both dead and alive) found in the biosphere;

(2) as the carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere;

(3) as organic matter in soils;

(4) in the lithosphere as fossil fuels and sedimentary rock deposits such as limestone;

(5) in the oceans as dissolved carbon dioxide and as calcium carbonate shells of marine organisms.

Feel free to go to http://www.youtube.com/watchv=U3SZKJVKRxQ&feature=related for a 5 min summary of the Carbon Cycle. Hopefully, it will help you remember it better :D


Interesting Idea(s) brought up during lesson:

• The idea of carbon credit VS carbon offset

 Carbon Offset
“A carbon offset is a reduction in emissions of carbon or greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for or to offset an emission made elsewhere.”
Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_offset

Basically, carbon offset is a set of measures that helps to counter the impact of the carbon emissions by balancing the carbon output and input. For example, in an attempt to offset my carbon emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels, I plant the equivalent of 100 trees. This helps to balance the carbon input and output from the cycle.


 Carbon credit
“A carbon credit is a generic term for any tradable certificate or permit representing the right to emit one tonne of carbon or carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e). Carbon trading is an application of an emissions trading approach.”
Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_credit

Basically, carbon credit is the trade between countries/companies about the right to emit carbon. Parties, who need to emit more carbon, have to buy the right from parties who have excess credits, to emit their extra carbon. This helps to regulate the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere globally, by regulating the amount of carbon emitted to a price.

My opinions on carbon credit and credit offset
Personally, I feel that the purpose of the carbon credit (which is to reduce the amount of carbon emissions by increasing the finianical costs of it) is very much limited by man's need to emit carbon. Thus, it is unable to fully meet its inital purpose. Well it deters a handful companies and countries from reducing their emissions, it doesnt stop those who really need and can afford to emit carbon.

On the other hand, I feel that credit offset is a better alternative to control the amount of carbon emission since it tackles the output and input of the carbon cycle (property of a system :D). However, it will not be the best alternative, especially for sustained periods of time. This is because, even if i plant trees in hope of reducing my country's carbon emissions, the same amount of carbon (or even more) will still be released when the trees die. Furthermore, there are that many trees you can plant.

However, on the whole, its still a better alternative compared to carbon credits :)

What do you think? Free feel to share your views in the comments :D