1. Carbon Cycle

2. Why do we care about carbon?

3. Why do we care about carbon?
All life on Earth is carbon based. This means that all living things are made up of primarily carbon.

4. Why do we care about carbon?
All life on Earth is carbon based. This means that all living things are made up of primarily carbon.
Building blocks of life:
Carbohydrates/sugars

5. Why do we care about carbon?
All life on Earth is carbon based. This means that all living things are made up of primarily carbon.
Building blocks of life:
Carbohydrates/sugars
Fats/oils

6. Why do we care about carbon?
All life on Earth is carbon based. This means that all living things are made up of primarily carbon.
Building blocks of life:
Carbohydrates/sugars
Fats/oils
Proteins/amino acids

7. Why do we care about carbon?
All life on Earth is carbon based. This means that all living things are made up of primarily carbon.
Building blocks of life:
Carbohydrates/sugars
Fats/oils
Proteins/amino acids
DNA/RNA

8. Carbon cycle

9. Carbon cycle
Just like water, nitrogen, and phosphorus, carbon is cycled in nature

10. Carbon cycle
Just like water, nitrogen, and phosphorus, carbon is cycled in nature
Cycles between:
Biotic and abiotic environment

11. Carbon cycle
Just like water, nitrogen, and phosphorus, carbon is cycled in nature
Cycles between:
Biotic and abiotic environment
The geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere

12. The Carbon Cycle
Where do plants get their carbon from?

13. The Carbon Cycle Where do plants get their carbon from?
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

14. The Carbon Cycle Where do plants get their carbon from?
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Where do animals get their carbon from?

15. The Carbon Cycle Where do plants get their carbon from?
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Where do animals get their carbon from?
Food

16. Carbon cycle game
Instructions: Imagine you are a carbon atom being transformed by various processes in the carbon cycle. Choose a random starting station and record it in the cart below. Roll the die to determine your fate. Record the event that corresponds to your roll, and follow the instructions. Be sure you write down your station after each roll, even if you have not moved. Repeat as many times as you can.

17. Carbon sinks
As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time?

18. Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time?
Atmosphere, producers, ocean…

19. Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time?
Atmosphere, producers, ocean…
These are called carbon sinks. Sinks are places where much of the carbon on the planet is stored

20. Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time?
Atmosphere, producers, ocean…
These are called carbon sinks. Sinks are places where much of the carbon on the planet is stored
What is the significance of carbon sinks?

21. Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time?
Atmosphere, producers, ocean…
These are called carbon sinks. Sinks are places where much of the carbon on the planet is stored
What is the significance of carbon sinks?
When the carbon cycle in balanced, the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere from cellular respiration is balanced by the amount of carbon being removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis

22. Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time?
Atmosphere, producers, ocean…
These are called carbon sinks. Sinks are places where much of the carbon on the planet is stored
What is the significance of carbon sinks?
When the carbon cycle in balanced, the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere from cellular respiration is balanced by the amount of carbon being removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis
This balance is reached in large part because of carbon sinks

23. Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time?
Atmosphere, producers, ocean…
These are called carbon sinks. Sinks are places where much of the carbon on the planet is stored
What is the significance of carbon sinks?
When the carbon cycle in balanced, the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere from cellular respiration is balanced by the amount of carbon being removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis
This balance is reached in large part because of carbon sinks
How are we disrupting carbon sinks?

24. Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time?
Atmosphere, producers, ocean…
These are called carbon sinks. Sinks are places where much of the carbon on the planet is stored
What is the significance of carbon sinks?
When the carbon cycle in balanced, the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere from cellular respiration is balanced by the amount of carbon being removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis
This balance is reached in large part because of carbon sinks
How are we disrupting carbon sinks?
Burning fossil fuels, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere

25. Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time?
Atmosphere, producers, ocean…
These are called carbon sinks. Sinks are places where much of the carbon on the planet is stored
What is the significance of carbon sinks?
When the carbon cycle in balanced, the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere from cellular respiration is balanced by the amount of carbon being removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis
This balance is reached in large part because of carbon sinks
How are we disrupting carbon sinks?
Burning fossil fuels, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere
Cutting down forests, reducing the amount of photosynthesis occurring (and burning the trees releases even more CO2)

26. Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time?
Atmosphere, producers, ocean…
These are called carbon sinks. Sinks are places where much of the carbon on the planet is stored
What is the significance of carbon sinks?
When the carbon cycle in balanced, the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere from cellular respiration is balanced by the amount of carbon being removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis
This balance is reached in large part because of carbon sinks
How are we disrupting carbon sinks?
Burning fossil fuels, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere
Cutting down forests, reducing the amount of photosynthesis occurring (and burning the trees releases even more CO2)
What is the effect of disrupting the carbon cycle?

27. Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time?
Atmosphere, producers, ocean…
These are called carbon sinks. Sinks are places where much of the carbon on the planet is stored
What is the significance of carbon sinks?
When the carbon cycle in balanced, the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere from cellular respiration is balanced by the amount of carbon being removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis
This balance is reached in large part because of carbon sinks
How are we disrupting carbon sinks?
Burning fossil fuels, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere
Cutting down forests, reducing the amount of photosynthesis occurring (and burning the trees releases even more CO2)
What is the effect of disrupting the carbon cycle?
An increase in the greenhouse effect

28. Greenhouse Effect

29. Greenhouse Effect
More carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is leading to an increase in the greenhouse effect

30. Greenhouse Effect
More carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is leading to an increase in the greenhouse effect
Some of the sun’s radiation is absorbed by the Earth’s surface and some is reflected back

31. Greenhouse Effect
More carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is leading to an increase in the greenhouse effect
Some of the sun’s radiation is absorbed by the Earth’s surface and some is reflected back
Greenhouse gases, such as CO2, trap the reflected energy as infrared radiation (heat)

32. Greenhouse Effect
More carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is leading to an increase in the greenhouse effect
Some of the sun’s radiation is absorbed by the Earth’s surface and some is reflected back
Greenhouse gases, such as CO2, trap the reflected energy as infrared radiation (heat)
This causes global warming which leads to climate change

33. Global warming leads to climate change

34. Global warming leads to climate change
Global warming as a result of the greenhouse effect has had widespread consequences on the health of our planet

35. Global warming leads to climate change
Global warming as a result of the greenhouse effect has had widespread consequences on the health of our planet
Ice caps and glaciers are melting

36. Global warming leads to climate change
Global warming as a result of the greenhouse effect has had widespread consequences on the health of our planet
Ice caps and glaciers are melting
The oceans are warming and becoming acidic

37. Global warming leads to climate change
Global warming as a result of the greenhouse effect has had widespread consequences on the health of our planet
Ice caps and glaciers are melting
The oceans are warming and becoming acidic
Extreme weather events are increasing

38. Global warming leads to climate change
Global warming as a result of the greenhouse effect has had widespread consequences on the health of our planet
Ice caps and glaciers are melting
The oceans are warming and becoming acidic
Extreme weather events are increasing
Let’s examine each of these in further detail

39. Melting ice
A consequence of melting ice caps and glaciers is an increase in sea levels

40. Melting ice
A consequence of melting ice caps and glaciers is an increase in sea levels
The rate of melting is accelerating

41. Melting ice
A consequence of melting ice caps and glaciers is an increase in sea levels
The rate of melting is accelerating
Recall that white reflects light while dark colours absorb light

42. Melting ice
A consequence of melting ice caps and glaciers is an increase in sea levels
The rate of melting is accelerating
Recall that white reflects light while dark colours absorb light
Previously, the white of the glaciers would reflect part of the suns light

43. Melting ice
A consequence of melting ice caps and glaciers is an increase in sea levels
The rate of melting is accelerating
Recall that white reflects light while dark colours absorb light
Previously, the white of the glaciers would reflect part of the suns light
As the ice melts, areas of white on the planet are being replaced with the dark of the rock beneath the glaciers

44. Melting ice
A consequence of melting ice caps and glaciers is an increase in sea levels
The rate of melting is accelerating
Recall that white reflects light while dark colours absorb light
Previously, the white of the glaciers would reflect part of the suns light
As the ice melts, areas of white on the planet are being replaced with the dark of the rock beneath the glaciers
The dark areas are absorbing more light, causing the Earth to heat at a faster rate

45. Changing Oceans

46. Changing Oceans
As global temperatures increase, the ocean temperatures increase as well

47. Changing Oceans
As global temperatures increase, the ocean temperatures increase as well
This harms coral reefs and other ecosystems
HERE

48. Changing Oceans
As global temperatures increase, the ocean temperatures increase as well
This harms coral reefs and other ecosystems
HERE
As the amount of CO2 in the air increases, the amount of dissolved CO2 in the ocean will also increase, causing ocean acidification

49. Changing Oceans
As global temperatures increase, the ocean temperatures increase as well
This harms coral reefs and other ecosystems
HERE
As the amount of CO2 in the air increases, the amount of dissolved CO2 in the ocean will also increase, causing ocean acidification
Organisms living in the ocean are harmed by the increase in acidity

50. Extreme weather events

51. Extreme weather events
Ocean and air currents help to distribute heat around the planet

52. Extreme weather events
Ocean and air currents help to distribute heat around the planet
Because our planet is spherical, the sun’s rays hits the surface at different angles, warming it unevenly

53. Extreme weather events
Ocean and air currents help to distribute heat around the planet
Because our planet is spherical, the sun’s rays hits the surface at different angles, warming it unevenly
Currents distribute this heat, cooling the portions of the Earth where the rays are directly hitting the surface and warming areas that receive only glancing rays from the sun

54. Extreme weather events
Ocean and air currents help to distribute heat around the planet
Because our planet is spherical, the sun’s rays hits the surface at different angles, warming it unevenly
Currents distribute this heat, cooling the portions of the Earth where the rays are directly hitting the surface and warming areas that receive only glancing rays from the sun
Our activities are disrupting these currents so they are unable distribute heat more evenly around the planet

55. Extreme weather events
Ocean and air currents help to distribute heat around the planet
Because our planet is spherical, the sun’s rays hits the surface at different angles, warming it unevenly
Currents distribute this heat, cooling the portions of the Earth where the rays are directly hitting the surface and warming areas that receive only glancing rays from the sun
Our activities are disrupting these currents so they are unable distribute heat more evenly around the planet
This is resulting in more extreme weather events (HERE)

56. Extreme weather events
Ocean and air currents help to distribute heat around the planet
Because our planet is spherical, the sun’s rays hits the surface at different angles, warming it unevenly
Currents distribute this heat, cooling the portions of the Earth where the rays are directly hitting the surface and warming areas that receive only glancing rays from the sun
Our activities are disrupting these currents so they are unable distribute heat more evenly around the planet
This is resulting in more extreme weather events (HERE)
Increase in hurricanes: HERE

57. What can we do to help?

58. What can we do to help?
Although global warming is having dire consequences on our planet, all is not lost

59. What can we do to help?
Although global warming is having dire consequences on our planet, all is not lost
Technological advancements may be the key to combatting climate change

60. What can we do to help?
Your task:

61. What can we do to help? Your task:
Research a technology that is/may be able to help fight climate change
The technology can directly impact climate change (for example, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) or indirectly (for example, a more efficient transportation system which will reduce the need for fossil fuels)
This technology can be already made or still merely an idea

62. What can we do to help? Your task:
Research a technology that is/may be able to help fight climate change
The technology can directly impact climate change (for example, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) or indirectly (for example, a more efficient transportation system which will reduce the need for fossil fuels)
This technology can be already made or still merely an idea
Summarize your research in a paragraph
This should include a description of the problem the technology is combatting, the technology itself, who is working/who worked on developing the technology, when it should be/when it was operational, any issues/concerns about the technology, and what the next steps should be
Include citations (website/book titles)

63. What can we do to help? Your task:
Research a technology that is/may be able to help fight climate change
The technology can directly impact climate change (for example, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) or indirectly (for example, a more efficient transportation system which will reduce the need for fossil fuels)
This technology can be already made or still merely an idea
Summarize your research in a paragraph
This should include a description of the problem the technology is combatting, the technology itself, who is working/who worked on developing the technology, when it should be/when it was operational, any issues/concerns about the technology, and what the next steps should be
Include citations (website/book titles)
Prepare a ~2 min presentation
The presentation should include a PowerPoint or some other type of visual aid

64. What can we do to help? Your task:
Research a technology that is/may be able to help fight climate change
The technology can directly impact climate change (for example, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) or indirectly (for example, a more efficient transportation system which will reduce the need for fossil fuels)
This technology can be already made or still merely an idea
Summarize your research in a paragraph
This should include a description of the problem the technology is combatting, the technology itself, who is working/who worked on developing the technology, when it should be/when it was operational, any issues/concerns about the technology, and what the next steps should be
Include citations (website/book titles)
Prepare a ~2 min presentation
The presentation should include a PowerPoint or some other type of visual aid
This should focus on hope. How can we create a better tomorrow?