Respuesta :
Answer:
Cycle would differ from the modern cycle in several key ways:
Reservoirs:
Dominant Carbon Storage: In a pre-human Earth, rocks and sediments would be the dominant carbon storage reservoir, as they are today. However, the proportion of carbon stored in other reservoirs like the ocean and atmosphere might differ slightly.
Fossil Fuels: Fossil fuel reservoirs wouldn't exist pre-humans, as these are formed from the buried remains of ancient organisms over millions of years. So, the carbon locked away in coal, oil, and gas wouldn't be part of the cycle.
Flux Rates:
slower Exchange: Overall, the pre-human carbon cycle would likely be much slower. Exchange rates between reservoirs would be lower, as processes like erosion, weathering, and biological activity operated at different paces without human involvement.
Volcanic Activity as the Main Driver: Volcanic eruptions would be the primary driver of atmospheric CO2 fluctuations instead of human activities like burning fossil fuels. Volcanic release of CO2 into the atmosphere and its subsequent uptake by the oceans would still control the long-term balance.
Specific Differences:
Photosynthesis and Respiration: While plants would still perform photosynthesis, the overall impact on atmospheric CO2 might be slightly less compared to today due to differences in plant cover and types. Respiration from organisms would also be present, but at lower levels due to fewer living things.
Ocean-Atmosphere Exchange: Gas exchange between the ocean and atmosphere would occur, but the rate might be different due to factors like temperature and wind patterns.
Weathering and Erosion: Weathering of rocks and erosion of soil would release carbon into the atmosphere at natural rates, much slower than the accelerated rates we see today due to human activities like deforestation and land use changes.
Here are some additional things to consider:
The exact differences in the pre-human carbon cycle are still being researched and debated. There might have been significant variations depending on geological periods and environmental conditions.
Some aspects of the carbon cycle, like the basic principles of photosynthesis and respiration, would remain the same even without humans.
It's important to remember that understanding the pre-human carbon cycle can help us better understand the impact of human activities on the present-day cycle and the potential consequences of climate change.
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