Explain how chemical and physical processes cause carbon to cycle through the major earth...
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Transcript of Explain how chemical and physical processes cause carbon to cycle through the major earth...
Explain how chemical and physical processes cause carbon to cycle through the major earth reservoirs.
D19
All living organisms are built of carbon compounds. It is the fundamental building block of life.
Carbon is cycled among Earth's reservoirs, just like water.
Why study the Carbon Cycle?
Carbon can form four bonds at a time. It bonds with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,
and other elements. It can also bond to other carbon atoms, forming a long chain of atoms
These unique properties of carbon allow it to function as the building block for living things.
Carbon is unique
There are 4 Major Reservoirs which comprise the EarthBiosphere – living things
Atmosphere – the airHydrosphere – the water
Lithosphere/ Geosphere – the ground
whshonorses.wikispaces.comCarbon is found in each of these!
Biosphere The reservoir known as the biosphere is
comprised of living things – plants, animals and everything else in between!
http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Biosphere
wildarunachal.org
flmnh.ufl.edu
The biosphere is all life on our planet. This includes living organisms as well as the
un-decomposed remains of dead organisms. The biosphere includes life on land and in
the oceans
Biosphere
Living things on our planet are carbon-based because most of the molecules in them are chains of carbon atoms linked together.
In the biosphere, carbon is contained within organic molecules which contain carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen.
Biosphere Carbon
Lecithin – triglyceride
Atmosphere The reservoir known as the atmosphere is
comprised of the whole mass of air surrounding the Earth
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atmosphere
kidsgeo.com
vtaide.com
In this reservoir, carbon is found as carbon dioxide (CO2)
Carbon dioxide comprises less than 5 % of the atmosphere. It has a residence time of 10 years.
But, it plays an important role with regards to our planet’s temperature, as we will discuss later on.
Atmospheric Carbon
Hydrosphere This reservoir encompasses all of the waters
on the earth's surface, such as lakes and oceans.
The hydrosphere covers about 70% of the surface of the Earth and is the home for many plants and animals.
kidsgeo.com
natasha-hydrosphere.blogspot.com
In the hydrosphere, carbon mainly exists as dissolved CO2
Marine life including plankton and shellfish use this dissolved CO2 combined with Ca as calcium carbonate to form their shells and skeletons.
Hydrosphere Carbon
Lithosphere/Geosphere
This reservoir consists of the outer solid part of the earth, including the crust and uppermost mantle.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/glossary/?term=lithosphere
oceansjsu.com exploratorium.edu
The lithosphere consists of sediment and rocks of the upper crust of the Earth.
Carbon enters the lithosphere through ocean sediments and by the burial of decaying organic matter.
Lithosphere/Geosphere
Carbon can be found in the lithosphere in two forms Limestone / Dolomite - carbon in this
rock originates from the living things in the ocean. Upon their death, these organisms become part of ocean sediments and over time they convert to limestone and becomes part of the lithosphere carbon reservoir.
Coal, oil, and natural gas - these are the remains of ancient plants and plankton which have undergone geologic processes.
Lithosphere Carbon
Basic Pathways for Movement of Carbon
Diffusion – movement of substances from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration
Respiration – the process by which cells gain energy from organic molecules which consumes oxygen and releases carbon dioxide
Photosynthesis – the process by which plants create glucose by combining carbon dioxide and water and utilizing the sun’s energy
Basic Pathways for Movement of Carbon
Eruption of Gases / Volcanic Eruptions – release of gases from the earth’s crust
Burial and Sedimentation – the process by which loose materials deposited on the Earth’s surface form layers and eventually form rock
Weathering and Erosion – the chemical and physical processes of breaking apart rocks into smaller pieces
Short-term (Fast Track)Carbon Cycle
Photosynthesis Respiration Decomposition Diffusion
beta.lpb.org
• Minutes to Years
Long-term (Slow Track)Carbon Cycle
Weathering and erosion
Accumulation of carbon-rich plant and animal material in sediments
Fossil fuel formation
This takes millions of years
beta.lpb.org
climate.be
Sinks are ways that carbon is stored for long periods without being reintroduced to the atmosphere
Sources are ways that carbon is moved into the atmosphere
When in balance, the total carbon dioxide emissions and removals from the entire carbon cycle are roughly equal.
Currently, the sources are overpowering the sinks
Sinks and Sources
Billions of tons of atmospheric CO2 are removed from the atmosphere by oceans and growing plants, which function as ‘sinks,’
This carbon is emitted back into the atmosphere annually through natural processes also known as ‘sources.’
Overview - Natural Sources and Sinks
Animals and plants undergo respiration ◦ This moves C from biosphere to atmosphere
The oceans undergo diffusion of CO2
◦ This moves C from hydrosphere to atmosphere Volcanoes undergo eruptions which release gases
◦ This moves C from lithosphere to atmosphere. Rocks and minerals undergo weathering and
erosion◦ This moves C from lithosphere to atmosphere or
hydrosphere.
Natural Sources
Plants undergo photosynthesis; ◦ This moves CO2 from the atmosphere to the biosphere.
Oceans take in CO2 by diffusion◦ This moves carbon from the atmosphere to the
hydrosphere.
Natural Sinks
Manmade Sources – Use of Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels form over millions of years from buried plant and animal material
When fossil fuels are burned to produce energy their carbon is released into the atmosphere as CO2.
This is the largest source of CO2 emissions globally
kids.britannica.com geothermal.marin.org thedailygreen.com
Manmade Sources – Deforestation
Trees cut down and burned Impacts temp. and stability of the soil
◦ Soil erosion◦ Inc. in temp. because soil no longer covered by
vegetation How does it affect the C cycle?
en.wikipedia.org plu.edu time.com
Manmade Sources – Cement Manufacturing
Calcium carbonate is heated to produce lime and CO2
US: 7 – 10 billion metric tons of C per year How does it affect the C cycle?
stateoftheusa.orgpmhl.co.uk
Manmade Sources – Cattle Farming Cattle burps and
flatulence Respiration How does it affect the
C cycle?
oklahomafarmreport.com
environmentalparliament.org
Manmade Sources – Rice Farming
Flooding of rice paddies causes underwater organic matter to decompose
Methane (CH4) is released How does it affect the C cycle?
Rice Farming in Louisiana
geobloggingwithmark.blogspot.com
agrariancrisis.in
geographyfieldwork.com
Rice Farming in Spain
Growing trees and plants remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it in the biosphere.
Humans cause deforestation, which erases this key carbon sink.
How man affects sinks
Manmade Sinks - Carbon Capture and Store
Carbon sequestration Capturing C from power
plants and pumping it underground
Expensive How does it affect the C
cycle?
carboncapture.us
Manmade Sinks – Planting Trees How does it affect
the C cycle?
jiyolive.com
treehugger.com
masterfile.com
http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/textbook/earth_system/biogeochemical_cycles.html
http://www.actewagl.com/education/Glossary/default.aspx?letterSearch=C
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Carbon_cycle http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0857177.html http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/ctec/Carbon/carboncycle.htm http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Bi-Ca/Carbon-Dioxide-in-the-Ocean-
and-Atmosphere.html http://eri.gg.uwyo.edu/resources/Energy/coal/information/formation/
carbonCycle/humanEffect.asp http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/co2_human.html
References