Transcript Carbon Cycle

Explain how chemical and physical processes
cause carbon to cycle through the major
earth reservoirs.
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All living organisms are built of
carbon compounds. It is the
fundamental building block of life.
Carbon is cycled among Earth's
reservoirs, just like water.
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Carbon can form four bonds at a time.
It bonds with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,
and other elements. It can also bond to other
carbon atoms, forming a long chain of atoms
These unique properties of carbon allow it to
function as the building block for living
things.
Biosphere – living things
Atmosphere – the air
Hydrosphere – the water
Lithosphere/ Geosphere – the ground
Carbon is found in each of these!
whshonorses.wikispaces.com
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The reservoir known as the biosphere is
comprised of living things – plants, animals
and everything else in between!
http://www.biologyonline.org/dictionary/Biosphere
flmnh.ufl.edu
wildarunachal.org
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The biosphere is all life on our planet.
This includes living organisms as well as the
un-decomposed remains of dead organisms.
The biosphere includes life on land and in the
oceans
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Living things on our planet are carbon-based
because most of the molecules in them are
chains of carbon atoms linked together.
In the biosphere, carbon is contained within
organic molecules which contain carbon,
oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen.
Lecithin – triglyceride
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http://www.theresilientearth.com/?q=content/biodiversitybalderdash
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The reservoir known as the atmosphere is
comprised of the whole mass of air
surrounding the Earth
kidsgeo.com
vtaide.com
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atmosphere
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In this reservoir, carbon is found as
carbon dioxide (CO2)
Carbon dioxide comprises less than 5 % of
the atmosphere. It has a residence time of 10
years.
But, it plays an important role with regards to
our planet’s temperature, as we will discuss
later on.
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This reservoir encompasses all of the waters
on the earth's surface, such as lakes and
oceans.
The hydrosphere covers about 70% of the
surface of the Earth and is the home for many
plants and animals.
kidsgeo.com
natasha-hydrosphere.blogspot.com
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In the hydrosphere, carbon mainly exists as
dissolved CO2
Marine life including plankton and shellfish
use this dissolved CO2 combined with Ca as
calcium carbonate to form their shells and
skeletons.
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This reservoir consists of the outer solid part
of the earth, including the crust and
uppermost mantle.
oceansjsu.com
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/glossary/?
term=lithosphere
exploratorium.edu
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The lithosphere consists of sediment and
rocks of the upper crust of the Earth.
Carbon enters the lithosphere through ocean
sediments and by the burial of decaying
organic matter.
Carbon can be found in the lithosphere in two forms
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Limestone / Dolomite - carbon in this rock
originates from the living things in the ocean.
Upon their death, these organisms become
part of ocean sediments and over time they
convert to limestone and becomes part of the
lithosphere carbon reservoir.
Coal, oil, and natural gas - these are the
remains of ancient plants and plankton which
have undergone geologic processes.
http://eri.gg.uwyo.edu
Basic Pathways for
Movement of Carbon
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Diffusion – movement of substances from an
area of high concentration to an area of low
concentration
Respiration – the process by which cells gain
energy from organic molecules which
consumes oxygen and releases carbon
dioxide
Photosynthesis – the process by which plants
create glucose by combining carbon dioxide
and water and utilizing the sun’s energy
Basic Pathways for
Movement of Carbon
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Eruption of Gases / Volcanic Eruptions –
release of gases from the earth’s crust
Burial and Sedimentation – the process by
which loose materials deposited on the
Earth’s surface form layers and eventually
form rock
Weathering and Erosion – the chemical and
physical processes of breaking apart rocks
into smaller pieces
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Photosynthesis
Respiration
Decomposition
Diffusion
• Minutes to Years
beta.lpb.org
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Weathering and
erosion
Accumulation of
carbon-rich plant and
animal material in
sediments
Fossil fuel formation
beta.lpb.org
This takes millions of
years
climate.be
You will learn more about these from your
reading assignment tonight.
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Sinks are ways that carbon is stored for long
periods without being reintroduced to the
atmosphere
Sources are ways that carbon is moved into
the atmosphere
When in balance, the total carbon dioxide
emissions and removals from the entire
carbon cycle are roughly equal.
Currently, the sources are overpowering the
sinks
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Billions of tons of atmospheric CO2 are
removed from the atmosphere by oceans and
growing plants, which function as ‘sinks,’
This carbon is emitted back into the
atmosphere annually through natural
processes also known as ‘sources.’
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Animals and plants undergo respiration
◦ This moves C from biosphere to atmosphere
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The oceans undergo diffusion of CO2
◦ This moves C from hydrosphere to atmosphere
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Volcanoes undergo eruptions which release gases
◦ This moves C from lithosphere to atmosphere.
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Rocks and minerals undergo weathering and
erosion
◦ This moves C from lithosphere to atmosphere or
hydrosphere.
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Plants undergo photosynthesis;
◦ This moves CO2 from the atmosphere to the biosphere.
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Oceans take in CO2 by diffusion
◦ This moves carbon from the atmosphere to the
hydrosphere.
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Fossil fuels form over millions of years from
buried plant and animal material
When fossil fuels are burned to produce energy
their carbon is released into the atmosphere as
CO2.
This is the largest source of CO2 emissions
globally
kids.britannica.com
geothermal.marin.org
thedailygreen.com
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Trees cut down and burned
Impacts temp. and stability of the soil
◦ Soil erosion
◦ Inc. in temp. because soil no longer covered by
vegetation
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How does it affect the C cycle?
en.wikipedia.org
plu.edu
time.com
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Calcium carbonate is heated to produce lime
and CO2
US: 7 – 10 billion metric tons of C per year
How does it affect the C cycle?
stateoftheusa.org
pmhl.co.uk
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Cattle burps and
flatulence
Respiration
How does it affect the
C cycle?
environmentalparliament.org
oklahomafarmreport.com
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Flooding of rice paddies causes
underwater organic matter to decompose
Methane (CH4) is released
How does it affect the C cycle?
Rice Farming in Louisiana
geobloggingwithmark.blogspot.com
agrariancrisis.in
Rice Farming in Spain
geographyfieldwork.com
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Growing trees and plants remove CO2 from
the atmosphere and store it in the biosphere.
Humans cause deforestation, which erases
this key carbon sink.
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Carbon sequestration
Capturing C from power
plants and pumping it
underground
Expensive
How does it affect the C
cycle?
carboncapture.us
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How does it affect
the C cycle?
jiyolive.com
treehugger.com
masterfile.com
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http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/textbook/earth_s
ystem/biogeochemical_cycles.html
http://www.actewagl.com/education/Glossary/default.aspx?letterSe
arch=C
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Carbon_cycle
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0857177.html
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/ctec/Carbon/carboncycle.htm
http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Bi-Ca/Carbon-Dioxide-in-theOcean-and-Atmosphere.html
http://eri.gg.uwyo.edu/resources/Energy/coal/information/formatio
n/carbonCycle/humanEffect.asp
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/co2_human.html