The Cycling of Matter

The Carbon Cycle

and its importance to Life on Earth

Junior Science
 What Is Carbon?
• Carbon is the chemical backbone
of life on Earth.
• It is found in all living (organic
matter) things on Earth
• It can be found in rocks, oceans,
atmosphere
• Carbon compounds regulate the
Earth’s temperature, make up the
food that sustains us, and provide
energy that fuels our global
economy.
The Carbon Cycle

• The same carbon atoms are used repeatedly on earth, cycling

between the earth and the atmosphere.
• Carbon moves from one storage reservoir to another through a
variety of mechanisms.
Plants and the Carbon Cycle
• Plants pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into
the biosphere, using it to make food through the
process of Photosynthesis.

• The carbon
becomes part of
the plant and is
stored as Starch the
leaves, stems or
roots of the plant.
• Thus entering the
food chain.
Animals and the Carbon Cycle

• When organisms eat plants,

they take in the carbon and
some of it becomes part of
their own bodies.
• All Animals that eat plants
digest the sugar molecules to
get energy for their bodies.
• Respiration, excretion, and
decomposition release the
carbon back into the
atmosphere or soil, continuing
the cycle.
• When humans consume plants
and animals we add to this
cycling of matter.
Plants and Animal Life Cycles
• When plants and animals die, most of their bodies
are decomposed and carbon atoms are returned to
the atmosphere.
• Some are not decomposed fully and end up in
deposits underground (oil, coal, etc.).
Carbon in Our Oceans
• Additional carbon is stored in
the ocean.
• 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.
Carbon and its Return to the Atmosphere
Many natural and industrial activities help
return carbon into the atmosphere.
• Carbon in rocks and underground
deposits is released very slowly into the
atmosphere a process that takes many
years.
• The burning of fossil fuels since the
start of the industrial revolution has
dramatically increased the levels of
Carbon in the atmosphere
The Carbon Cycle
Human Impact
Fossil Fuels
• 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.
Deforestation
• Fewer plants mean less CO2 removed from atmosphere.