Climate Change Carbon Cycle

Climate Change: Understanding Carbon What is Carbon?   - Carbon is an element - Carbon is found in anything that is alive or once alive - Living things use carbon for ENERGY!

FROM ATMOSPHERE TO PLANTS - Carbon exists as part of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) when in the atmosphere - Carbon is “breathed” in by plants as part of photosynthesis   - Once inside a plant carbon is ripped from CO2 and used to make carbohydrates (sugars) CARBON STORES ENERGY!

FROM PLANTS TO ANIMALS There are only two ways for animals to get carbon… Option 1 Eating plants Option 2 Eating animals that eat plants * Either way (option) Carbon is traced back to plants

FROM ANIMALS TO THE ATMOSPHERE Respiration: basically breathing, oxygen in, CO2 out Sugar + Oxygen = Energy + CO2 + H20 Plants can perform respiration too! (but it’s not common)

FROM ANIMALS (or plants) TO GROUND Fossil fuels form from _decaying plant and animal (organic) material___ - In order for fossil fuels to form you need the right amount of:   ◦ Temperature ◦ Pressure ◦ Time (millions of years)

FROM FOSSIL FUELS TO THE ATMOSPHERE It takes years for fossil fuels to form but only hours to be used up. When fossil fuels are burned they release CO2 into the atmosphere.

WHAT IS THE CARBON CYCLE LIKE IN THE OCEAN? Basically it is the same as on land. A lot of CO2 is absorbed into the ocean from the atmosphere. Ocean producers use it for photosynthesis.

Greenhouse Effect THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT Greenhouse gases are gasses in the atmosphere that trap radiation (heat) without them Earth would freeze THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

Global Warming Fact Theory Consequence The extra CO2 in the atmosphere causes higher temperatures by trapping more heat There is 30% more CO2 in the air now than there was 30 years ago Rising temperature   Animals and plants dying when they are unable to adapt Sea levels rising Severe weather conditions Deforestation decreases the Earth’s ability to remove CO2 from the atmosphere Fewer forests means faster rates of global warming

Journey of Carbon Complete the carbon cycle in your notes.