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THE CARBON CYCLE

THE CARBON CYCLE. What Is Carbon?. An element The basis of life of earth Found in rocks, oceans, atmosphere, and all living organisms. Carbon Cycle. The same carbon atoms are used repeatedly on earth. They cycle between the earth and the atmosphere. . Plants Use Carbon Dioxide.

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THE CARBON CYCLE

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  1. THE CARBON CYCLE

  2. What Is Carbon? • An element • The basis of life of earth • Found in rocks, oceans, atmosphere, and all living organisms.

  3. Carbon Cycle • The same carbon atoms are used repeatedly on earth. They cycle between the earth and the atmosphere.

  4. Plants Use Carbon Dioxide • Plants pull carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. • Using sunlight with the CO2 they make glucose. • This process is photosynthesis. • The carbon can be used by the plant (food) and used to build the plant (cellulose). • Also gives off CO2 from cellular respiration.

  5. Animals Eat Plants • When organisms eat plants, they take in the carbon and some of it becomes part of their own bodies. • They generate CO2 from cellular respiration(break down of glucose) and exhale this CO2 into the atmosphere.

  6. Animals Eat Animals • When organisms eat animals, they take in the carbon and some of it becomes part of their own bodies. • They generate CO2 from cellular respiration (break down of glucose) and exhale this CO2 into the atmosphere.

  7. Plants and Animal Die • When plants and animals die, most of their bodies are decomposed and carbon atoms are returned to the atmosphere.(CO2) • Some are not decomposed fully and end up as deposits underground (oil, coal, etc.= fossil fuels=Carbon)

  8. Carbon Slowly Returns to Atmosphere • Carbon in rocks and underground deposits is released very slowly into the atmosphere. • This process takes many years.

  9. Carbon in Oceans • Additional carbon is stored in the ocean. • CO2 passes into the water from the atmosphere. • Plants & phytoplankton use for photosynthesis. • Many animals pull carbon from water to use in shells, etc. • Animals die and carbon substances are deposited at the bottom of the ocean. • Oceans contain earth’s largest store of carbon.

  10. Burning wood and Fossil Fuels • Releases carbon compounds in air, water, and soil • * one gallon of gas burned in a car=19lbs of CO2 (Who Killed the Electric Car, 2004)

  11. Cycle – Repeats Over and Over and Over and Over …

  12. Human Impact • Fossil fuels release carbon stores very slowly • Burning anything releases more carbon into atmosphere — especially fossil fuels • Increased carbon dioxide in atmosphere increases global warming • Fewer plants mean less CO2 removed from atmosphere

  13. What We Need to Do • Burn less, especially fossil fuels • Promote plant life, especially trees

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