The arrows in the chart above represent the movement of carbon between four reservoirs: the ocean, plants, fossil fuels, and the atmosphere. The numbers in the blue boxes show the gigatons of carbon moving each year. More carbon is moving into the vegetation for photosynthesis than is moving out to the atmosphere via respiration. This means that the vegetation reservoir is a carbon sink, taking in more carbon from the atmosphere than it is releasing to the atmosphere. A carbon source is the opposite. A reservoir that behaves as a carbon source releases more carbon to the atmosphere than it takes in. How would this model be altered in non-industrialized countries? Responses A Unbalanced due to the increase in plant sinks.Unbalanced due to the increase in plant sinks. B Balanced due to the reduced combustion of fossil fuels.Balanced due to the reduced combustion of fossil fuels. C No change due to a drop in both plant photosynthesis and respiration.No change due to a drop in both plant photosynthesis and respiration. D There would be little change in any sinks or resources; no change to model.

1 answer

B Balanced due to the reduced combustion of fossil fuels.

In non-industrialized countries, there is typically less combustion of fossil fuels compared to industrialized countries. This would result in a reduction in the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere from fossil fuels, leading to a more balanced carbon cycle. The plant reservoir would still act as a carbon sink, taking in more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases, helping to balance the overall movement of carbon in the model.