THE CARBON CYCLE (pg 42)

The carbon cycle describes the circulation of carbon compounds between the living and non-living
world. The atmosphere contains about 0.04% carbon dioxide.

Photosynthesis is the only process by which carbon can enter the living world.

Carbon is important because it is an essential part of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

THE EFFECT OF HUMANS ON THE CARBON CYCLE

Since the rise in industries, the burning of fossil fuels to release energy for machines has greatly
increased. Deforestation has also increased. These have added CO2 to the air at an alarmingly fast rate.
This leads to the greenhouse effect and global warming.

1) THE GREEN HOUSE EFFECT (pg45)

Greenhouse gases like CO2, methane and water vapour form a ‘blanket’ around earth and absorb the
heat from earth sending it back to earth so warming up the earth. This is a natural process that keeps
the surface of the earth warm so organisms can survive.
However as the amount of greenhouse gases increase eg CO2, they bounce back more of the heat onto
the earth so causing the temperature of earth to increase. The increase in the temperature of earth is
known as global warming.

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2) GLOBAL WARMING
This is the increase in the earth’s temperature.
Some effects of global warming are:
1) Polar ice caps melt causing sea levels to rise. This results in polar bears losing their homes. It also
causes flooding of coastal areas.
2) Temperature and rainfall patterns change. This could increase rainfall in some areas and cause
droughts in other areas.
3) Increase in number and intensity of hurricanes and tornados.

THE NITROGEN CYCLE (pg 46)

The nitrogen cycle describes the circulation of nitrogen compounds between the living and non-living
world. Plants and animals need nitrogen to make amino acids, protein, DNA. The atmosphere contains
about 79% nitrogen but most organisms cannot use this directly.

 Denitrifying bacteria: converts: nitrates in soil  nitrogen in atmosphere

 Nitrogen fixing bacteria: converts: nitrogen in the atmosphere  nitrates in the soil
 Nitrifying bacteria eg. nitrosomonas and nitrobacter converts:
ammonium compounds  nitrites  nitrates in the soil

ACID RAIN
Combustion or burning of fossil fuels release acidic gases such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide
into the air. These dissolve in water vapour in clouds and fall as acid rain. Sulphur dioxide forms
sulphuric acid and nitrogen dioxide forms nitric acid. Acid rain burns leaves killing plants and trees; it
dissolves poisonous metals and releases it to the environment; it damages stone and metal structures.