Transcript CARBONCYCLEGW1

THE CARBON CYCLE
AND
GLOBAL WARMING
1
CARBON



-
4TH most abundant
element on Earth
Essential for life- all
organic (living) compounds
are composed of carbon
Found in various forms:
Carbon dioxide (gas)
Limestone (solid)
Wood
Plastic
Diamonds
Graphite
Fossil fuels
2
CARBON CYCLE


Movement of carbon
between the atmosphere,
oceans, biosphere, and
geosphere
Divided into two
components:
1. Geological carbon cycle
2. Biological carbon cycle
3
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
4
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
5
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
6
PHOTOSYNTHESIS


Autotrophs take in carbon dioxide, water, and
sunlight to produce sugars and oxygen
Chemical Formula:
6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6 O2
7
CELLULAR RESPIRATION

Carbon dioxide is released back into the atmosphere by
breaking down sugar during cellular respiration

Chemical Formula:
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy
8
RELEASE OF CARBON DIOXIDE

CO2 is also
released into
the atmosphere
by:
1. Decaying dead matter
2. Forest fires
3. Volcanoes
4. Burning of fossil fuels
(coal, oil, gas)
9
10
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)
11
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
12
CLIMATE CHANGE


Global Warming: an
average increase in the
Earth's temperature, which in
turn causes changes in
climate.
A warmer Earth may lead to
changes in
1.
2.
3.

rainfall patterns
A rise in sea level
A wide range of impacts on
plants, wildlife, and humans
When most scientists talk
about the issue of climate
change, their concern is
about global warming caused
by human activities.
13
GLOBAL WARMING DEBATE

-
-
-
POSITION 1
Human pollution is the
cause
Carbon dioxide released
into 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
Natural patterns and
fluctuations
Nothing to do with human
activities
Carbon dioxide usage is
hard to measure (ex. plant
absorption)
Temperatures have
increased and decreased in
the past
14
15
READ AND RESPOND

Even with a dramatic cut in global greenhouse
emmisions, most scientists predict a temperature
rice of about 2C (4.4F) over the next century.
1.
Think about your daily routines, how would your life be
different if it were two degrees warmer?
2.
Think about the foods and products that you consume
throughout the year, how would a 2 degree increase
affect their availability?
3.
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?
16