BIOLOGICAL PUMPS Meaning and
Definition
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Biological pumps refer to various mechanisms in the Earth's biosphere that help transport and sequester carbon from the atmosphere to the ocean depths or the terrestrial realm. These pumps play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, acting as a natural mechanism that mitigates the excess greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, therefore regulating the Earth's climate.
There are multiple types of biological pumps that operate in different environments. In marine ecosystems, the oceanic biological pump is the most prominent mechanism. It involves the uptake of carbon dioxide by phytoplankton during photosynthesis in the surface ocean, which leads to the production of organic matter. This organic matter is then either transferred to higher trophic levels or sinks to the deep ocean through sinking particles. Along this sinking process, a significant amount of carbon is effectively transported and stored at depths.
In terrestrial ecosystems, the biological pump operates through the absorption of carbon dioxide by plants during photosynthesis. This carbon is incorporated into plant tissues, and when plants die or shed leaves, they contribute to soil organic matter. The organic matter can potentially undergo long-term carbon sequestration upon decomposition, potentially staying locked away from the atmosphere for years or even centuries.
Overall, biological pumps are essential components of the Earth's natural carbon cycle, aiding in the removal and storage of carbon from the atmosphere to various reservoirs, such as the deep ocean or terrestrial ecosystems. By understanding and studying these processes, it becomes possible to assess their role in mitigating climate change and the effects of human activities on the global carbon balance.
Common Misspellings for BIOLOGICAL PUMPS
- viological pumps
- niological pumps
- hiological pumps
- giological pumps
- buological pumps
- bjological pumps
- bkological pumps
- boological pumps
- b9ological pumps
- b8ological pumps
- biilogical pumps
- biklogical pumps
- billogical pumps
- biplogical pumps
- bi0logical pumps
- bi9logical pumps
- biokogical pumps
- biopogical pumps
- biooogical pumps
- bioligical pumps
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