Carbon Cycle

Douglas Wilkin, Ph.D. Jean Brainard, Ph.D.

Say Thanks to the Authors Click http://www.ck12.org/saythanks (No sign in required)

To access a customizable version of this book, as well as other interactive content, visit www.ck12.org

AUTHORS Douglas Wilkin, Ph.D. Jean Brainard, Ph.D.

CK-12 Foundation is a non-prot organization with a mission to reduce the cost of textbook materials for the K-12 market both in the U.S. and worldwide. Using an open-content, web-based collaborative model termed the FlexBook, CK-12 intends to pioneer the generation and distribution of high-quality educational content that will serve both as core text as well as provide an adaptive environment for learning, powered through the FlexBook Platform. Copyright 2014 CK-12 Foundation, www.ck12.org The names CK-12 and CK12 and associated logos and the terms FlexBook and FlexBook Platform (collectively CK-12 Marks) are trademarks and service marks of CK-12 Foundation and are protected by federal, state, and international laws. Any form of reproduction of this book in any format or medium, in whole or in sections must include the referral attribution link http://www.ck12.org/saythanks (placed in a visible location) in addition to the following terms. Except as otherwise noted, all CK-12 Content (including CK-12 Curriculum Material) is made available to Users in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC 3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-nc/3.0/), as amended and updated by Creative Commons from time to time (the CC License), which is incorporated herein by this reference. Complete terms can be found at http://www.ck12.org/terms. Printed: January 13, 2014

www.ck12.org

Concept 1. Carbon Cycle

C ONCEPT

Carbon Cycle

Give an overview of the carbon cycle.

How could releasing this much pollution into the atmosphere not be a poor idea? Burning of fossil fuels, such as oil, releases carbon into the atmosphere. This carbon must be cycled - removed from the atmosphere - back into living organisms, or it stays in the atmosphere. Increased carbon in the atmosphere contributes to the greenhouse effect on Earth.
The Carbon Cycle

Flowing water can slowly dissolve carbon in sedimentary rock. Most of this carbon ends up in the ocean. The deep ocean can store carbon for thousands of years or more. Sedimentary rock and the ocean are major reservoirs of stored carbon. Carbon is also stored for varying lengths of time in the atmosphere, in living organisms, and as fossil fuel deposits. These are all parts of the carbon cycle, which is shown in Figure 1.1. The carbon cycle is discussed in the following video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vwa6qtEih8 (1:56).
Carbon in the Atmosphere

Though carbon can be found in ocean water, rocks and sediment and other parts of the biosphere, the atmosphere may be the most recognizable reservoir of carbon. Carbon occurs in various forms in different parts of the carbon cycle. Some of the different forms in which carbon appears are described in Table 1.1.

TABLE 1.1:
Form of Carbon Carbon Dioxide Carbonic Acid Chemical Formula CO2 H2 CO3 State Gas Liquid Main Reservoir Atmosphere Ocean 1

www.ck12.org

TABLE 1.1: (continued)

Form of Carbon Bicarbonate Ion Organic Compounds Chemical Formula HCO3 Examples: C6 H12 O6 (Glucose), CH4 (Methane) Examples: CaCO3 (Calcium Carbonate), CaMg(CO3 )2 (Calcium Magnesium Carbonate) State Liquid(dissolved ion) Solid Gas Main Reservoir Ocean Biosphere Organic Sediments (Fossil Fuels) Sedimentary Rock, Shells, Sedimentary Rock

Other Carbon Compounds

Solid Solid

www.ck12.org

Concept 1. Carbon Cycle

FIGURE 1.1
The Carbon Cycle. Carbon moves from one reservoir to another in the carbon cycle. What role do organisms play in this cycle?

KEY: C = Carbon, O = Oxygen, H = Hydrogen

Carbon in Carbon Dioxide

Carbon cycles quickly between organisms and the atmosphere. In the atmosphere, carbon exists primarily as carbon dioxide (CO2 ). Carbon dioxide cycles through the atmosphere by several different processes, including those listed below. Living organisms release carbon dioxide as a byproduct of cellular respiration. Photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and uses it to make organic compounds. Carbon dioxide is given off when dead organisms and other organic materials decompose. Burning organic material, such as fossil fuels, releases carbon dioxide. Carbon cycles far more slowly through geological processes such as sedimentation. Carbon may be stored in sedimentary rock for millions of years. When volcanoes erupt, they give off carbon dioxide that is stored in the mantle. Carbon dioxide is released when limestone is heated during the production of cement. Ocean water releases dissolved carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when water temperature rises. Carbon dioxide is also removed when ocean water cools and dissolves more carbon dioxide from the air.

Because of human activities, there is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today than in the past hundreds of thousands of years. Burning fossil fuels and producing concrete has released great quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Cutting forests and clearing land has also increased carbon dioxide into the atmosphere because these activities reduce the number of autotrophic organisms that use up carbon dioxide in photosynthesis. In addition, clearing often involves burning, which releases carbon dioxide that was previously stored in autotrophs.
Summary

Carbon must be recycled through living organisms or it stays in the atmosphere. Carbon cycles quickly between organisms and the atmosphere. Due to human activities, there is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today than in the past hundreds of thousands of years. 3

www.ck12.org
Practice I

Use these resources to answer the questions that follow. http://www.hippocampus.org/Earth Science Environmental Science Search: Carbon Cycle 1. Describe the role of each of the following in the carbon cycle: a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. photosynthesis respiration diffusion decomposition combustion sedimentation volcanism weathering

http://www.hippocampus.org/Biology Biology for AP* Search: The Carbon Cycle 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. What is the role of carbon in organic compounds? How is carbon used in primary producers? How is CO2 returned to the atmosphere by living organisms? How much CO2 is removed from the atmosphere by plants? What are fossil fuels? How are they formed? What is CaCO3 ? What is its role in the carbon cycle? Why is the amount of atmospheric CO2 lowest during the Northern Hemisphere summer?

Practice II

Label the Diagram of Carbon Cycle at http://www.neok12.com/diagram/Carbon-Cycle-01.htm.

Review

1. What is the role of the carbon cycle. 2. Why is cycling carbon important? 3. Describe a major method that carbon is cycled.

References
1. CK-12 Foundation. . CC-BY-NC-SA 3.0