1. THE CARBON CYCLE

2. What Is Carbon? An element The basis of life on earth
Found in rocks, oceans, atmosphere

3. CARBON An element 4TH most abundant element on Earth
The basis of life on earth
Essential for life- all organic (living) compounds are composed of carbon
Found in lots of places:
Rocks, oceans, atmosphere
Found in various forms:
Carbon dioxide (gas)
Limestone (solid)
Wood
Plastic
Diamonds
Graphite
Fossil fuels

4. Organic Carbon
Hydrocarbons: CH4
Carbohydrate: CH2O

5. Inorganic carbon Carbon Dioxide: CO2 Calcium Carbonate: CaCO3
Mandale Limestone Quarry

6. Carbon reservoirs
Parts of the Earth system where carbon is stored is called carbon reservoirs

7. Carbon reservoirs The atmosphere.
The biosphere (include fresh water systems and non-living organic material, such as soil carbon).
The oceans ( including dissolved inorganic carbon and living and non-living marine biota).
The lithosphere (sediments, Earth core including fossil fuels).

8. Carbon Cycle
The same carbon atoms are used repeatedly on earth. They cycle between the earth and the atmosphere.

9. CARBON CYCLE
Movement of carbon between the atmosphere, oceans, biosphere, and geosphere
Divided into two components:
Geological carbon cycle
Biological carbon cycle

10. GEOLOGICAL CARBON CYCLE
Carbonic acid combines with minerals on the earth’s surface forming carbonates (weathering)
Carbonates erode from the surface into the ocean and settle on the ocean floor
Sinks into the earth, heats up, and eventually rises up as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
* OCCURS OVER MILLIONS OF YEARS

11. GEOLOGICAL CARBON CYCLE
Carbon dioxide diffuses into the ocean forming bicarbonates or calcium carbonate (used to make shells and other body parts by organisms such as coral and brachiopod shells)
These organisms die and their shells and body parts become carbonate-rich deposits
After a long period of time, these deposits become sedimentary rocks, coal, or oil

12. Carbon in Oceans Additional carbon is stored in the ocean.
Many animals pull carbon from water to use in shells, etc.
Animals die and carbon substances are deposited at the bottom of the ocean.
Oceans contain earth’s largest store of carbon.

13. BIOLOGICAL CARBON CYCLE
The movement of carbon through the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration
Also, the consumption of living matter by other organisms
The amount of carbon cycled through annually is a 1,000 times greater than the geological carbon cycle component

14. Carbon is taken from the atmosphere in several ways
Photosynthesis.
The oceans when the seawater becomes cooler, more CO2 dissolve and become carbonic acid.
In the upper ocean areas organisms convert reduced carbon to tissues, or carbonates.

15. Plants Use Carbon Dioxide
Plants pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it to make food = photosynthesis.
The carbon becomes part of the plant (stored food).

16. 6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6 O2
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Autotrophs take in carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight to produce sugars and oxygen
Chemical Formula:
6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6 O2

17. Animals Eat Plants
When organisms eat plants, they take in the carbon and some of it becomes part of their own bodies.

18. CELLULAR RESPIRATION C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy
Carbon dioxide is released back into the atmosphere by breaking down sugar during cellular respiration
Chemical Formula:
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy

19. Plants and Animal Die
When plants and animals die, most of their bodies are decomposed and carbon atoms are returned to the atmosphere.
Some are not decomposed fully and end up in deposits underground (oil, coal, etc.).

20. Carbon is released into the atmosphere in several ways
Respiration by plants and animals.
Decay of animal and plant matter.
Combustion of organic material
Production of cement.
The ocean releases CO2 into the atmosphere.
Volcanic eruptions and metamorphism
Through the respiration performed by plants and animals.
Through the decay of animal and plant matter.
Through combustion of organic material which oxidizes the carbon it contains.
Production of cement.
At the surface of the oceans where the water becomes warmer, dissolved carbon dioxide is released back into the atmosphere.
Volcanic eruptions and metamorphism release gases into the atmosphere.

21. RELEASE OF CARBON DIOXIDE
CO2 is also released into the atmosphere by:
Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
Forest fires
Volcanoes
Decaying dead things

22. Carbon Slowly Returns to Atmosphere
Carbon in rocks and underground deposits is released very slowly into the atmosphere.
This process takes many years.

23. Human Impact Fossil fuels release carbon stores very slowly
Burning anything releases more carbon into atmosphere — especially fossil fuels
Increased carbon dioxide in atmosphere increases global warming
Fewer plants mean less CO2 removed from atmosphere

24. HUMAN IMPACT
Since the onset of the industrial revolution, burning of fossil fuels and deforestation have lead to increase of atmospheric CO2
There is strong evidence that supports the idea that these activities increase the atmosphere’s ability to hold in heat (greenhouse effect) and is resulting in a climate change (global warming)

25. GREENHOUSE EFFECT
Greenhouse effect: process by which carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere absorb infrared radiation from the sun, forming a “heat blanket” around the Earth
Some sunlight is reflected and other is trapped as heat to warm the Earth
Enhanced greenhouse effect: caused from an increase of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides from human activities into the air which traps more heat and raises the temperatures of the Earth’s surface

26. Variations of the Earth’s surface temperature
for the past 1,000 years
SPM 1b

27. Variations of the Earth’s surface temperature
for the past 140 years
SPM 1a

28. Fossil Fuels

29. Fossil Fuels
In the past, fossil fuels were a dead end for the carbon cycle.
Petroleum and Coal are the main fossil fuels
Humans are now burning fossil fuels at alarmingly high rates, releasing excess carbon that used to be in the ground into the atmosphere.

30. Deforestation
Deforestation increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere:
• Removing plants decreases the rate of photosynthesis
• The removed trees are often burnt
• Waste plant material can be left to rot
• The cleared land is often used to farm animals like cattle, increasing the rate of respiration
• Increased industrial activity increases the use of fossil fuels

31. Global Warming
Global Warming: an average increase in the Earth's temperature, which in turn causes changes in climate.
A warmer Earth will lead to changes in
rainfall patterns
A rise in sea level
A wide range of impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans
When scientists talk about the issue of climate change, their concern is about global warming caused by human activities. (called anthropogenic)

32. GLOBAL WARMING DEBATE POSITION 1 99% of scientists
Human pollution is the cause (anthropogenic causes)
Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere has increased by 30% in the last 200 years
Over the last 100 years, temperatures have increased slowly due to an increase in greenhouse gases (CFC’s, nitrous oxides, methane, and carbon dioxide)
POSITION 2
Half of people who aren’t scientists
Natural patterns and fluctuations (Milankovitch Cycles)
Nothing to do with human activities
Carbon dioxide usage is hard to measure (ex. plant absorption)
Temperatures have increased and decreased in the past

34. What is your carbon footprint?
A carbon footprint is the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere by your personal, day-to-day activities.
Examples: Type of car you drive, how far you drive your car, how much electricity you use (electricity primarily comes from burning coal), where the food you buy is grown and airplane flights.
Why do we care?? GLOBAL WARMING

35. Things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint
Promote plant life, especially trees
Buy a fuel efficient vehicle
Purchase locally grown food
Reduce electricity use
Reduce how far/much you drive
Take less airplane trips
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

36. What We Need to Do Burn less, especially fossil fuels
Promote plant life, especially trees

37. READ AND RESPOND
Even with a dramatic cut in global greenhouse emmisions, scientists predict a temperature rise of at least 2C (4.4F) over the next century.
Think about your daily routines, how would your life be different if it were two degrees warmer?
Think about the foods and products that you consume throughout the year, how would a 2 degree increase affect their availability?
Think about the community in which you live, how would a 2 degree increase in the average global temperatures affect jobs, businesses, and industry in your community?