1. Activity 8: The Carbon Cycle
Read the introduction to Activity 8 (pg. 96). Record the challenge questions and define the key terms in your lab notebook.
Challenge: How does human activity affect the movement of carbon through the carbon cycle?
Key Terms:
Carbon Cycle:
Carbon Reservoir:

2. Carbon cycle The movement of carbon between a carbon reserves.
The movement of carbon within an ecosystem.

3. Carbon reservoir
A natural feature, such as a rock, a pinch of soil, or an organism, that stores carbon-containing molecule and exchanges them with other carbon reservoirs.

4. Why is carbon important?
Contained within carbohydrates, fats, proteins and nucleic acids
Fundamental to life
Found in all living things
Found in the air, the land and water
Part of fossil fuels

5. The chemical structure of coal, which can be converted into liquid fuels and chemicals.

6. Carbon Cycle

7. Carbon Cycle Processes
What processes absorb carbon?
Photosynthesis
Carbon dioxide (CO2) in
Carbon is incorporated into carbohydrates (food) in plants
Carbon is moved through the food web

8. Carbon Cycle Processes
What processes absorb carbon?
Oceans
Carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolves in the water at the surface
Used by plants and phytoplankton in photosynthesis
Stored in shells and coral reefs

9. Carbon Cycle Processes
What processes return carbon dioxide to the environment?
Waste and Decay
Consumers obtain carbon through their food release some in their waste
When dead organisms are broken down, carbon is released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4)
Carbon from waste and decay can also end up in sedimentary rocks

10. Carbon Cycle Processes
What processes return carbon dioxide to the environment?
Respiration (breathing)
Oxygen (O2) in
Carbon dioxide (CO2) out
Plants, animals, and microorganisms respire

11. Carbon Cycle Processes
What processes return carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?
Burning Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels (like coal and oil) contain carbon.
When they are burned for energy, CO2 is released back into the atmosphere

12. Carbon Cycle Processes
What processes return carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?
Forest Fires
Carbon trapped in plants
Carbon is released into the atmosphere when the plants burn

13. Carbon Cycle

14. Carbon Cycle Video

15. How is human activity affecting the carbon cycle?