1. DeCaro 2006 Carbon Cycle Investigative Science

2. DeCaro 2006 Carbon Facts The concentration of carbon in living matter (18%) is almost 100 times greater than its concentration in the earth (0.19%). Living things extract carbon from their nonliving environment For life to continue, this carbon must be recycled!

3. DeCaro 2006 Where does Carbon exist? Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere Carbonate rocks (i.e. limestone and coral) Deposits of coal, petroleum & natural gas (from once living things) Dead organic matter (i.e. humus in soil) Oceans

4. DeCaro 2006 How does Carbon enter our world? Through action of autotrophs –Photoautotroph= plants and algae that use energy of light to convert carbon dioxide to organic matter –Chemoautotroph= bacteria that uses energy derived by oxidation of molecules

5. DeCaro 2006 Carbon returns to the atmosphere and water Respiration (CO 2 ) Burning of fossil fuels Decay

6. DeCaro 2006

7. Problems with too much Carbon! Carbon dioxide is transparent to light but rather opaque to heat rays. Therefore, CO2 in the atmosphere retards the radiation of heat from the earth back into space — the "greenhouse effect".

8. DeCaro 2006 Ultimate effect: Global warming Glaciers and ice sheets receding Woody shrubs are now growing in Alaska which were once barren Species of birds and butterflies moving north and breeding earlier in Spring.

9. DeCaro 2006 Extra Credit - Carbon Cycle Box of Knowledge Using the tissue box create a “box of knowledge” of the Carbon Cycle. Needs to include labels (process and steps) Needs to include arrows Must have information & pictures on all 6 sides.

10. DeCaro 2006 Other variants of the box of knowledge Create a box of knowledge of one of the effects of too much Carbon emission. (i.e greenhouse effect or global warming) Needs to have explanations and information Needs to have pictures Needs to have information & pictures on all six sides.

11. DeCaro 2006 Rubrics – Due Dec. 10/11 Carbon Cycle knowledge box –tissue box10 pts –Pictures10 pts –Project Labels5pts Organization5pts Effort10 pts –Wow10 –Good8 –Ave.6 –Try harder4 –No effort2 –Total40pts Effects of Carbon knowledge box –tissue box10 pts –Pictures10 pts –Project Information5 pts Organization5 pts Effort10 pts –Wow10 –Good8 –Ave6 –Try harder4 –No effort2 –Total40 pts