Photosynthesis

The Big Picture

Carbon cycle
§ Process by which carbon moves from organic t
inorganic compounds and back
§ Producers convert inorganic carbon (CO2) into
organic carbon compounds (glucose)
§ Primary Consumers obtain organic compounds
by eating producers
§ Secondary consumers obtain organic carbon
by eating primary consumers
§ Cellular Respiration by producers and
consumers return CO2 to atmosphere
§ In the natural carbon cycle, there are two
main processes which occur
§ Photosynthesis
§ metabolism
§
 Carbon in Ocean and
Sediments
§ CO2 is slightly soluble
§ Can be absorbed into water
§ Some of the dissolved CO2 remains in the water, the warmer the water the
less carbon dioxide remains in the water
§ Some CO2 is used by algae and phytoplankton through the process of
photosynthesis
§ Coral and shelled marine organisms take up CO2 from the water and
convert it into calcium carbonate
§ When these organisms die pieces of shells/coral fall to ocean floor and make
sediments
§ The carbonate sediments are constantly being formed and redissolved in
the bottom of the ocean
§ Over long periods of time, the sediments may be raised up as dry land or
into mountains
§ This type of sedimentary rock is called limestone
§ The carbonates can redissolve releasing carbon dioxide back to the air or
water
§
 Humans and the
Carbon Cycle
§ Combustion of any type of fossil fuel, which may
include oil, coal, or natural gas
§ Fossil Fuels formed thousands of years ago from
plant or animal remains that were buried,
compressed, and transformed into oil, coal, or
natural gas
§ This carbon is said to be "fixed" in place and is
essentially locked out of the natural carbon cycle
§ Humans intervene during by burning the fossil fuels
§ During combustion in the presence of O2, CO2 and
water molecules are released into the atmosphere
§
 Photosynthesis and
Global Climate
§ CO2 makes up 0.03 percent of Earth’s atmosphere
§ 300 parts per million
§ Greenhouse Effect
§ CO2 traps heat from sun in Earth’s atmosphere (otherwise it would escape into
space)
§ Not a bad thing
§ Keeps world climate warm enough to sustain life
§ Keeps Earth 10% warmer than it would be without CO2
§ Currently CO2 in atmosphere is rising
§ 360 parts per million
§ Burning fossil fuels
§ Deforestation
§ Natural Causes
§ Photosynthesis
§ Cellular respiration
§ Decomposition
§ Volcanic eruptions
§ Ocean/limestone
§ Global Warming
§ Overall rise in Earth’s average temperature over a period of time
§