Download 2016-2017 Carbon Cycle notes ppt

Carbon
Cycle
Notes 6.1
I. What is Carbon?
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An element
The basis of life on Earth
Present in rocks, oceans and the atmosphere
II. Carbon Cycle
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The continuous process by which
carbon is exchanged between
organisms and the environment.
III. Plants Use CO2
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Plants pull carbon dioxide (CO2) from the
atmosphere and use it to make sugars.
(photosynthesis)
Plants use some of the sugars
(structure/respiration)
IV. Animals Eat Plants
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When organisms eat plants, they take in carbon
They use it as food to provide them with energy
Some of it becomes part of their own bodies.
V. Decomposition of
Plants & Animals
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When plants and animals die, most of
their bodies decompose and carbon atoms
return to the atmosphere
Some don’t decompose fully and end up
in deposits underground as fossil fuels
(oil, coal, natural gas)
VI. Carbon Stored in
the Ground
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Carbon is stored in fossils and/or
fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas)
In nature, carbon found in rocks and
underground deposits is released
VERY slowly back into the
atmosphere.
VII. Carbon in Oceans
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Carbon is stored in the ocean as CO2
Carbon is found in the form of calcium
carbonate in the shells of aquatic species.
When animals die, carbon substances are
deposited at the bottom of oceans.
Oceans contain Earth’s largest
reservoir of carbon!
VIII. Human Impact
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The release of carbon from fossil fuels is
very slow in nature.
Humans DRASTICALLY speed up this
process by burning fossil fuels.
Heating up the oceans reduces their
ability to store carbon.
Fewer plants means less CO2 removed
from atmosphere.
IX. Videos
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4cPmHGegKI
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrIr3xDhQ0E