Carbon Cycling, Photosynthesis/Respiration, and Biomes: Carbon’s Role in Global Climate Change Global Climate Change Education: Biology Module C

Carbon Cycling

Carbon Cycling and Global Climate Change Major Concepts: 1) 1)Carbon - 4 th most common element on Earth - THE building block of life 2) 2)Carbon cycles among biotic and abiotic reservoirs - sources and sinks - different timescales of movement (hours to millions of years) 3) 3)Atmospheric carbon in the form of CO 2 - increasing rapidly - now at exceptionally high concentrations - high concentration adds to the Earth’s natural greenhouse effect - affects global climate 5) 5)We can reduce the rate and magnitude of CO 2 increase in the atmosphere and address global climate change. 4) 4)Primary source of increasing atmospheric CO 2 - human activity

First a bit about carbon Fourth most common element on Earth (H, He, O, C) Fourth most common element on Earth (H, He, O, C)

First a bit about carbon Carbon’s atomic structure allows it to bind to up to four other elements at once Carbon’s atomic structure allows it to bind to up to four other elements at once This makes carbon very important for living things This makes carbon very important for living things

First a bit about carbon Carbon is THE building block of life Carbon is THE building block of life

First a bit about carbon Where is carbon found? Where is carbon found? Where does it go? Where does it go?

First a bit about carbon That is what you will discover in today’s activity!

Carbon Cycling Atmosphere-gases surrounding our planet Atmosphere-gases surrounding our planet Biosphere-all the living things on our planet Biosphere-all the living things on our planet Hydrosphere-all of the salt and fresh water on our planet Hydrosphere-all of the salt and fresh water on our planet Lithosphere-all the rocks and minerals on our planet Lithosphere-all the rocks and minerals on our planet

Carbon Cycling Air (Atmosphere) Water (Hydrosphere) Land (Lithosphere) Organisms (Biosphere)

Source and Sink Source-an area where carbon is easily removed Source-an area where carbon is easily removed Sink-an area where carbon is not easily removed and therefore can build up over time Sink-an area where carbon is not easily removed and therefore can build up over time

Source and Sink In the carbon cycle atoms move to and from these source and sink areas all the time In the carbon cycle atoms move to and from these source and sink areas all the time Movement can happen at very different time scales- from hours to millions of years Movement can happen at very different time scales- from hours to millions of years

How can carbon “move”? Diffusion Diffusion Photosynthesis Photosynthesis Respiration Respiration Combustion Combustion Sedimentation Sedimentation Erosion Erosion

How can carbon “move”? Diffusion-process by which molecules move from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration Diffusion-process by which molecules move from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration

How can carbon “move”? Photosynthesis-production of sugar (C 6 H 12 O 6 ) from solar energy, CO 2 and water by plants and other photosynthetic organisms Photosynthesis-production of sugar (C 6 H 12 O 6 ) from solar energy, CO 2 and water by plants and other photosynthetic organisms

How can carbon “move”? Respiration-the metabolism of sugars (C 6 H 12 O 6 ) to produce chemical energy for growth and reproduction Respiration-the metabolism of sugars (C 6 H 12 O 6 ) to produce chemical energy for growth and reproduction One of the major byproducts is CO 2 gas One of the major byproducts is CO 2 gas All living things respire, both plants and animals All living things respire, both plants and animals

How can carbon “move”? Combustion-carbon locked in living and dead organic matter under proper conditions of heat and oxygen rapidly oxidize or burn Combustion-carbon locked in living and dead organic matter under proper conditions of heat and oxygen rapidly oxidize or burn This releases energy in the form of heat and produces gases such as carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) This releases energy in the form of heat and produces gases such as carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 )

How can carbon “move”? Sedimentation- slow accumulation of material in one place. Over long periods of time this material can solidify and form rock Sedimentation- slow accumulation of material in one place. Over long periods of time this material can solidify and form rock

How carbon can “move”? Fossil fuels can be considered a special type of sedimentation Fossil fuels can be considered a special type of sedimentation

How can carbon “move”? Erosion- the process by which particles of soil are washed into water. Erosion- the process by which particles of soil are washed into water. This term is also used to describe the breakdown of harder materials such as rock due to the action of water This term is also used to describe the breakdown of harder materials such as rock due to the action of water

Why is carbon cycling important? For the last 1000 years the carbon cycle has been in balance For the last 1000 years the carbon cycle has been in balance In the last 100 years carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been rising In the last 100 years carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been rising Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere are higher now than in the last 20 million years Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere are higher now than in the last 20 million years Greenland Ice core data Graph by Robert Simmon, based on data from the NOAA Climate Monitoring & Diagnostics Laboratory Climate Monitoring & Diagnostics LaboratoryClimate Monitoring & Diagnostics Laboratory

Why is carbon cycling important? For the last 1000 years the carbon cycle has been in balance For the last 1000 years the carbon cycle has been in balance In the last 100 years carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been rising In the last 100 years carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been rising Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere are higher now than in the last 20 million years Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere are higher now than in the last 20 million years Ice core data Graph by Robert Simmon, based on data from the NOAA Climate Monitoring & Diagnostics Laboratory Climate Monitoring & Diagnostics LaboratoryClimate Monitoring & Diagnostics Laboratory

Carbon and global climate change CO 2 is a greenhouse gas which help keep the planet warmCO 2 is a greenhouse gas which help keep the planet warm Too much CO 2 may lead to global warming.Too much CO 2 may lead to global warming. Why?Why?

Carbon and global climate change CO 2 is the most significant greenhouse gas. CO 2 is the most significant greenhouse gas. Levels of CO 2 are increasing Levels of CO 2 are increasing Why? Why?

Why more CO 2 ? The human population has grown tremendously in the last 200 yearsThe human population has grown tremendously in the last 200 years All those people need and use energyAll those people need and use energy

Why more CO 2 ? In the late 1800’s ( ) The industrial revolution occurred In the late 1800’s ( ) The industrial revolution occurred

Why more CO 2 ? Most of that energy comes from fossil fuels…a carbon sinkMost of that energy comes from fossil fuels…a carbon sink

Why more CO 2 ? Most of that energy comes from fossil fuels…a carbon sinkMost of that energy comes from fossil fuels…a carbon sink

Other human impacts Remember that plants and other photosynthetic organisms are important for removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Remember that plants and other photosynthetic organisms are important for removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Slash and burn agriculture and urbanization are reducing the amount of carbon that can be removed Slash and burn agriculture and urbanization are reducing the amount of carbon that can be removed

Human impacts As humans clear more land and burn more fossil fuels we dramatically increase the amount of CO 2 going into the atmosphere As humans clear more land and burn more fossil fuels we dramatically increase the amount of CO 2 going into the atmosphere

What can we do? Some questions remain unanswered about the carbon cycle. Some questions remain unanswered about the carbon cycle. We do know that humans have produced a large amount of CO 2 and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere based many different types of data We do know that humans have produced a large amount of CO 2 and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere based many different types of data Production of CO 2 continues to this date, but it is something that we can control Production of CO 2 continues to this date, but it is something that we can control

Energy Use Reduce fossil fuel use Reduce fossil fuel use Non-fossil fuel energy sources Non-fossil fuel energy sources SolarSolar WindWind HydroelectricHydroelectric HydrogenHydrogen BiofuelsBiofuels NuclearNuclear GeothermalGeothermal

Carbon Mitigation Carbon sequestration Carbon sequestration Forestry-carbon bound up in forest productsForestry-carbon bound up in forest products Agriculture-no tillAgriculture-no till CO 2 injection-coal seams and saline aquifersCO 2 injection-coal seams and saline aquifers BiocharBiochar

Carbon Cycling and Global Climate Change Major Concepts & Summary: 1) 1)Carbon - 4 th most common element on Earth - THE building block of life 2) 2)Carbon cycles among biotic and abiotic reservoirs - Sources and sinks  atmosphere  biosphere  hydrosphere  lithosphere - Different timescales of movement (hours to millions of years)  diffusion  photosynthesis  respiration  combustion  sedimentation  erosion

3) 3)Atmospheric carbon in the form of CO 2 - increasing rapidly  100 years - now at exceptionally high concentrations  higher than last 20 million years - high concentration adds to the Earth’s natural greenhouse effect - affects global climate 5) 5)We can reduce the rate and magnitude of CO 2 increase in the atmosphere and address global climate change.  reduce fossil fuel use through conservation and efficiency  use non-fossil fuel energy sources  carbon sequestration 4) 4)Primary source of increasing atmospheric CO 2 - human activity  burning of fossil fuels releases carbon from lithosphere Carbon Cycling and Global Climate Change Major Concepts & Summary: