Carbon cycle

By Federico, Abel & Aditya

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vwa6qtEih8&feature=player_embedded

Background info & Facts• Carbon is the 4th most abundant element in

the Universe• Carbon is the element that anchors all

organic substances • “building block of life”• Organic chemicals are made from carbon

more than any other atom• Earth’s atmosphere contains 0.035% of

Carbon.• Diamonds are made out of a form of Carbon

Actual Definition:The carbon cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by

which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth. It is one of the most important cycles of the earth and allows for carbon to be recycled and reused throughout the biosphere and all of its organisms.

Chemical reactions in the Carbon cycleRespirationPhotosynthesisConsumptionSedimentationDiffusion

Inorganic and Organic reservoirsOrganic:

PlantsAnimals

Inorganic:AtmosphereTerrestrial BiosphereOceansEarth’s interiorSediments like fossil fuels

Pathway of Movement : Ocean In the oceans Carbon moves from the Atmosphere to the ocean surface through Diffusion Aquatic plants absorb carbon through Photosynthesis Fish and other marine life absorb carbon by Consumption

Carbon returns to the water and air by Respiration When fish die carbon is decomposed to the ocean floorby Sedimentation

Land Plants absorb carbon from the atmosphere Photosynthesis Same for animals by Consumption Carbon returns to atmosphere by Respiration When organisms die carbon is decomposed to the floor by the

process by Sedimentation

Pathway of movement

Human interventionHumans burn fossil fuels for energy and release

Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere (which would have otherwise stayed underground)

Causes billion of years of collected carbon deposits to be burned within a couple-hundred years = abnormal reaction which would not have happened in nature

Plants are not keeping up and CO2 is accumulating ( if there is too much carbon dioxide, oxygen will be reduced and global temperatures will rise)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc7CueUYfO4&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

Bibliography

http://carboncycle.davidjparsons.com/reactions_resevoirs.htm

http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Water/co2_cycle.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/11226/why.htm

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/carbon/efcarbon.html

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/CarbonCycle/