Question

Francine is developing a model of the carbon cycle, which involves the movement of carbon among various Earth systems. She begins by drawing the diagram shown below. Her friend Byron evaluates the model, and suggests that she thicken the arrow leading from fossil fuels to the atmosphere. His reasoning is that fossil fuels are being burned at a much faster rate than natural processes are restoring them. If Francine adopts Byron’s suggestion, how could her model be used to explain a significant change to Earth's systems?

Answer 1

If Francine adopts Byron’s suggestion, her model be used to explain a significant change to Earth's systems is increased rate of carbon dioxide release from burning fossil fuels.

Step-by-step explanation:

The carbon cycle is a key process that involves the movement of carbon among various Earth systems. It includes the transfer of carbon between the atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere. Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are rich in carbon and when burned, release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at a faster rate than natural processes can restore it.

If Francine adopts Byron's suggestion and thickens the arrow leading from fossil fuels to the atmosphere in her model, it would highlight the increased rate of carbon dioxide release from the burning of fossil fuels. This change in the model would help explain the significant impact of human activities on the carbon cycle and Earth's systems.

By showing the accelerated release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, Francine's model could illustrate the contribution of fossil fuel combustion to the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. This rise in carbon dioxide concentration is a major cause of global climate change and can have significant effects on Earth's ecosystems, weather patterns, and overall climate.

Therefore if Francine adopts Byron's suggestion and thickens the arrow from fossil fuels to the atmosphere in her carbon cycle model, it would highlight the increased rate of carbon dioxide release from burning fossil fuels. This change in the model would help explain the impact of human activities on the carbon cycle and Earth's systems.

Answer 2

After adopting the suggestions of Byron the new or revised model would show that using fossil fuels at a rapid rate would lead to higher inputs of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere which will not be removed by the natural process of removing the excess amount of the carbon dioxide by the process of the photosynthesis and other.

The carbon dioxide would increase due to this and cause trapping of the solar heat in the atmosphere which leads to the greenhouse effect to warm the earth. That ultimately changes the climate of the earth.