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
 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.
 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.
 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.
 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)
Carbon Slowly Returns to Atmosphere

 Carbon in rocks and underground deposits is released very

slowly into the atmosphere.
 This process takes many years.
 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.

 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)
Cycle – Repeats Over and
Over and Over and Over
…
 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
 What We Need to Do

 Burn less, especially fossil fuels

 Promote plant life, especially trees