What is the carbon cycle?

The carbon path from the atmosphere, into living organisms, then turning into dead organic
matter, and back into the atmosphere.

The carbon cycle:

The sun keeps supplying energy to food chains. However, the supply of chemical elements
to living organisms is limited, and these elements must be recycled.

The nutrient elements are recycled between simple forms in the non-living (abiotic)
environment and more complex forms in the bodies of living organisms (biotic).

Living organisms require carbon-containing compounds such as:

● a source of energy, released when carbon-containing compounds are oxidized during
respiration (carbohydrates and fats)
● raw materials, for the growth of cells (fats and proteins)

Recycling carbon compounds:

Plants and some bacteria manufacture these compounds from C02 during the process of
photosynthesis. Animals obtain them in a ready-made form by feeding on other living
organisms and decomposers obtain them as they break down the dead bodies or wastes of
other living organisms.
How is carbon recycled?

● Carbon is constantly recycled by photosynthesis and respiration.

● Some conditions are not suitable for respiration by decomposers, and CO2 remains
locked up in complex carbon compounds in organisms bodies.
● The burning of fossil fuels such as wood and alcohol uses up O2 and returns C02 to
the atmosphere.

Oceans:
● C02 moves between the atmosphere and the ocean by diffusion. This movement
occurs when there is a difference in CO2 gas pressure between the two.
● The oceans contain more carbon than the atmosphere, because CO2 that has
diffused into the sea reacts with the water to form carbonic acid and its dissociation
products.
● This effectively reduces the CO2 gas pressure in the water, allowing more
diffusion from the atmosphere.

Effect of carbon dioxide on the oceans:

● The diffusion of C02 between the ocean and the atmosphere helps the
atmospheric C02 levels to remain relatively constant during short-term fluctuations.
● However, scientists are concerned about the impact of increased diffusion. A
constant increase in carbonic acid levels and dissociation products could lead to a
decrease in pH. This is known as ocean acidification.
● It is thought that this could slow the rate of growth of coral reefs and affect
phytoplankton populations.

Plankton:
● Marine phytoplankton account for a large amount of the global biological uptake of
carbon dioxide. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen during
photosynthesis.
● Plankton use carbon to produce calcium carbonate (CaCO3) shells. When plankton
die, their shells sink to the ocean floor and are buried in the sediment. Over time this
can form limestone and chalk, locking away the carbon.

Human activity:
● Globally the concentration of C02 in the atmosphere has increased over the last few
hundred years.
 ● This is thought to be influenced by human activity. The combustion of fossil fuels and
deforestation have contributed to the increase.
● Deforestation has removed huge numbers of photosynthesizing plants. This then
causes less C02 to be removed from the atmosphere by biomass.

Are carbon dioxide levels rising?

● Although the total amount of carbon in the environment is fixed, C02 levels are
constantly fluctuating.
● Currently, the general trend shows an increasing level of carbon dioxide. Why might
this be happening?

● Many scientists believe that human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and making
cement from limestone, are responsible for increasing carbon dioxide levels. What
environmental problems might this cause?