the carbon cycle. the main processes of the carbon cycle the carbon cycle has multiple processes...
TRANSCRIPT
The Carbon Cycle
The Main Processes of the Carbon cycle The Carbon cycle has multiple
processes but the two most important processes that keeps the cycle going are, Photosynthesis, and Cellular respiration.
Plants are the organisms that benefit the most from both photosynthesis and cellular respiration, the plants use solar energy to turn atmospheric carbon dioxide into carbohydrates. Plants and animals use these carbohydrates through a process called respiration, the reverse of photosynthesis.
The Main Processes of the Carbon cycle Cont.
If you look at the chemical formula for Photosynthesis (energy + 6CO2 + 6 H2O = C6H12O6 (carbohydrates) + 6CO2) then look at the formula for cellular respiration (C6H12O6 (carbohydrates) + 6CO2 = 6CO2 + 6
H2O + energy) The two processes link to each other either way.
Actions That Produce CO2
Burning Fossil fuels like (coal, oil, natural gas) once these fuels are burned returns to the atmosphere of carbon that has been locked within the earth for millions of years.
Clearing and burning the forests is another cause for CO2, especially in the tropics in the recent years large areas of the Amazon rain forest have been cleared for agriculture and cattle grazing.
The kneeling curve The image to the right
is a kneeling curve. A kneeling curve is a long-term record for atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration.
the long-term increase means that concentrations are higher than they have been in 400,000 years
Measurements of CO2 Over
Time When the Industrial Revolution started the amount of CO2
that was being used was starting to increase. Since the last measurement of atmospheric CO2 in the
nineteenth century the amount of CO2 concentration has increased by 20%
The Human Effect human activities are significantly altering the natural
carbon cycle. Since the onset of the industrial revolution about 150 years ago, human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation have accelerated, and both of those activities have greatly contributed to a long-term rise in atmospheric CO2.