The activities of living things

keep the levels of oxygen

and carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere balanced…

Plants remove…
…carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere, and release…

…oxygen when they…

…PHOTOSYNTHESISE.
Animals, plants and microbes
remove…
…oxygen from the atmosphere, and
release…

…carbon dioxide when they…

…RESPIRE.
Burning fuels also removes…

oxygen from the atmosphere, and

releases…

…carbon dioxide.
 The Carbon Cycle

Carbon atoms on the planet Earth are constantly being

recycled.

Photosynthesis converts carbon dioxide from the

atmosphere into biomass.

Other chemical and biological processes release

carbon dioxide from biomass into the atmosphere.
 CO2 in
Combustio atmosphere and
n oceans
Respiratio
n

Photosynthesis

Feeding

Death Excretion
Formation
of Fossil
Decomposers
Fuels
COW
There are many ways to draw the carbon cycle…
Burning of
fossil fuels Carbon dioxide in
the air
Respiration by
decomposers Respiration

Photosynthesis Respiration

Plants Animals
Feeding
Death and
Excretion

Decay

… make sure you understand the carbon cycle, and…

… do not learn it parrot fashion!

Tasks:

1. Draw out your own version of the carbon cycle.

2. What would be the effect of the following on

the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere?
- an increase in the number of plants.
- an increase in the burning of fossil fuels.
- an increase in the number of animals.

3. How many ways can you think of increasing the

amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
List them.
 Deforestation

Deforestation increases the amount of carbon

dioxide in the atmosphere:
• Removing plants decreases the rate of
photosynthesis

• The removed trees are often burnt

• Waste plant material can be left to rot

• The cleared land is often used to farm animals

like cattle, increasing the rate of respiration

• Increased industrial activity increases the use of

fossil fuels