The Carbon Cycle - Introduction to Carbon Capture and Sequestration - page 105

Atmosphere: 600 Pg C

Terrestrial:
2,100 Pg C

Surface ocean: 700 Pg C

Deep ocean: 38,000 Pg C Sediments and crust:

48,000,000 Pg C

Figure 3.1.2 Carbon reservoirs
System representation of the carbon reservoirs of the earth. Pg C is petagrams (10 15
grams) of carbon. Figure based on data from Sigman and Boyle [3.3].

5

4

Glacial-Interglacial

3

Human
perturbation

2

Annual
cycle

1

Diurnal
cycle

0

-1

-2

9876543210-1-2-3

Period [log (years)]

Figure 3.1.3 Fluctuation of the CO 2 concentrations in the atmosphere
Schematic variance spectrum for CO 2 over the course of the earth's history. The fi gure
illustrates the size and time scale of the fl uctuation of the CO 2 concentrations observed
in the atmosphere. Figure adapted from Falkowski et al. [3.2].