Download The Carbon Cycle and Its Effect on the Atmosphere

The Carbon Cycle and Its Effect on the Atmosphere
Name(s)_____________________________ Block_________ Date_________
FOCUS QUESTION:​
What is the carbon cycle and why should I worry about it?
​
We are going to be learning about how the carbon cycle (which we discussed in ch.
19) causes changes in the Earth’s atmosphere. Some of these changes are natural
occurrences, while others are influenced by man’s activities. Carbon cycles
through many components of the world such as the atmosphere, biosphere, and
hydrosphere. We are going to use a computer simulation to help us focus on how
carbon not only goes through each of these, but influences changes in the
atmosphere in particular.
*To get to the simulation, ​
go to the following website​
:
SASCurriculumPathways.com
Once you’re there, ​
LOG IN​
at the top of the page
Username: rose53adjective
password:
** Leave the password blank and hit ENTER!
Click ​
SCIENCE​
on the left; then choose ​
ECOLOGY​
on the left to narrow the results
Look at the list now and choose ​
VLAB: CARBON CYCLE​Click on that to start the
simulation!
Follow the TABS​
at the top and use this sheet to record your answers. Some of the
directions will be found in the simulation so if you are looking for what to do next,
check the site! It’s all there! :-)
TAB 1: Carbon Sources
Read the questions below. Then complete this Journal by interacting with the online
Simulation
1.1 ) Which carbon pools do you think are represented by the Simulation? In other
words, where is carbon found? (3 places) ______________________________________
1.2 ) _____Observe the Simulation. What happens to the carbon contained in fossil
fuel when that fuel is burned?
a.) nothing
b.) C goes into the ground
c.) C goes into the air
1.3 ) _____Increase the burning of fossil fuel. What effect does this increase have
on atmospheric levels of carbon?
a.) C levels in the air rise
b.) C levels in the water rise
c.) nothing
1.4 ) The Simulation depicts a "closed system," which means that matter cannot
enter or leave. Without clicking the Reset button, decrease the burning of fossil
fuel. What happens to the level of atmospheric carbon? Why?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
1.5 ) _____Click the Reset button. What effect does an increased level of
deforestation have on atmospheric carbon?
a.) more deforestation = less carbon in air
b.) more deforestation = more carbon in air
c.) no effect
TAB 2: Life <--> Atmosphere
In this section, you will examine the relationship between atmospheric carbon
levels and living organisms, particularly trees and other green plants.
** In the Simulation (to the right) move the slider to the right or left to increase or
decrease the level of atmospheric carbon.
2.1 ) Which carbon pools are represented by the Simulation? In other words, where
is carbon found? (3 places)
____________________________________________________
2.2 ) Describe the ways in which carbon moves among these different pools. In
other words, how does carbon moves between the 3 things you answered in
question 2.1?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2.3 ) _____Which pool provides the carbon needed for photosynthesis?
a.) atmosphere
b.) water
c.) plants
2.4 ) _____Increase the level of atmospheric carbon. What effect does increased
atmospheric carbon have on photosynthesis?
a.) Increased atmospheric carbon increases the rate of photosynthesis,
which
results in an increase in the amount of carbon stored in green plants.
b.) Increased atmospheric carbon decreases the rate of photosynthesis,
which
results in an decrease in the amount of carbon stored in green plants.
TAB 3: Ocean <--> Atmosphere
In this section, you will explore the movement of carbon between atmospheric and
oceanic pools and discover how changes in one pool can affect another.
** In the Simulation (to the right) move the slider to the right or left to increase or
decrease the level of atmospheric carbon.
3.1 ) Which carbon pools are represented by the Simulation? In other words, where
is carbon found? (3 places)
_____________________________________________________
3.2 ) _____Look at the three carbon gauges as you increase the level of
atmospheric carbon. What happens to the levels of carbon in the surface ocean
and the deep ocean when atmospheric carbon is increased?
a.) Carbon levels in all 3 go up
b.) Carbon levels in all 3 go down
c.) Carbon levels only go up in the surface ocean
3.3 )_____ Decrease the level of atmospheric carbon. What happens to the levels of
carbon in the surface ocean and the deep ocean when atmospheric carbon is
decreased?
a.) Carbon levels in all 3 go up
b.) Carbon levels in all 3 go down
c.) carbon moves from the surface ocean into the atmosphere thus
increasing
the C in the atmosphere and decreasing the levels in the surface ocean
3.4 )_____ What is the process by which carbon moves among the atmospheric and
oceanic pools?
a.) osmosis
b.) evaporation
c.) diffusion
TAB 4: Carbon Cycle
4.1 ) Data Collection In this section, you will examine the effects of human activities
on the movement of carbon among all of the major pools.
** In the Simulation (to the right) ​
use the sliders​
(panels A and B) to adjust the
levels of fossil-fuel burning and deforestation. Click the ​
Calculate Data​
button
(panel C) to run an experiment. Then move the ​
year slider​
(below the Calculate
Data button) to examine the amount of carbon in each pool over time. ​
NOTE: ​
carbon
amounts are listed in gigatons (Gtons). One Gton is equal to one billion tons.
** Use the ​
Transfer Data​
button to record the initial carbon pool data from the
Data panel to the tables before making any changes to the Simulation.
Initial amount of Carbon in Each Pool
atmosphere
fossil fuel
plants
soil
surface
ocean
deep ocean
4.2 )_____Is the level of carbon the same throughout the ocean or are there
differences between different parts of the ocean?
a.) carbon levels are the same throughout
b.) carbon levels are different in different parts of the ocean
4.3 Data Collection
Use the ​
Transfer Data​
buttons to transfer the carbon pool data from the Data
panel to the tables. Carry out the experiments as follows:
• Change the rates of fossil-fuel burning and deforestation, as indicated in the
table.
• Click the Calculate Data button.
• Record the amount of carbon in each pool after 100 years and 500 years.
** Just to help you out, if the % change is (+), that means it is increased; if is ()then % change is decreased; if is (0) then it stays the same!
Experiment 1:
A. burning of fossil fuel (% change per yr) = 0
B. deforestation (% change per yr) = 0
Carbon Pools (Gtons)
Time (yrs)
atmosphere
fossil fuel
plants
soil
surface
ocean
deep
ocean
soil
surface
ocean
deep
ocean
100
500
Experiment 2:
A. burning of fossil fuel (% change per yr) = +3
B. deforestation (% change per yr) = 0
Carbon Pools (Gtons)
Time (yrs)
atmosphere
fossil fuel
plants
100
500
4.4 ) Where does all of the carbon from the burning of fossil fuel end up? List all of
the pools that increase as fossil fuel is burned. (should have 5 total!)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
4.5 ) In Experiment 2, you increased the rate of fossil-fuel burning 3% each year.
This is the current rate at which we are burning fossil fuels.
Can humans continue to burn fossil fuels indefinitely? __________________________
Use your data to tell when we will run out.
_____________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Experiment 3:
A. burning of fossil fuel (% change per yr) = 0
B. deforestation (% change per yr) = +3
Carbon Pools (Gtons)
Time (yrs)
atmosphere
fossil fuel
plants
soil
surface
ocean
deep
ocean
100
500
4.7 ) _____Which human activity has the greater effect on increasing atmospheric
carbon in the short term (next 100 years), fossil-fuel burning or deforestation?
a.) fossil-fuel burning
b.) deforestation
4.7 ) _____ What about in the next 500 years?
a.) fossil-fuel burning
b.) deforestation
Experiment 4:
A. burning of fossil fuel (% change per yr) = +3
B. deforestation (% change per yr) = +3
Carbon Pools (Gtons)
Time (yrs)
atmosphere
fossil fuel
plants
100
500
Experiment 5:
A. burning of fossil fuel (% change per yr) = -3
B. deforestation (% change per yr) = 0
Carbon Pools (Gtons)
soil
surface
ocean
deep
ocean
Time (yrs)
atmosphere
fossil fuel
plants
soil
surface
ocean
deep
ocean
soil
surface
ocean
deep
ocean
soil
surface
ocean
deep
ocean
100
500
Experiment 6:
A. burning of fossil fuel (% change per yr) = 0
B. deforestation (% change per yr) = -3
Carbon Pools (Gtons)
Time (yrs)
atmosphere
fossil fuel
plants
100
500
Experiment 7:
A. burning of fossil fuel (% change per yr) = +3
B. deforestation (% change per yr) = -3
Carbon Pools (Gtons)
Time (yrs)
atmosphere
fossil fuel
plants
100
500
TAB 5: Carbon Cycle: Analysis
Refer to the Journal, as needed, to answer the following questions.
Carbon Sources
A.1 ) Explain why the movement of fossil fuels from the the ground to the
atmosphere has become significant only within the last 200 years.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Life <--> Atmosphere
A.3 ) Describe the two ways that deforestation increases atmospheric carbon.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Ocean <--> Atmosphere
A.4 ) Can carbon move back and forth between the atmosphere and the deep
ocean? Explain.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Carbon Cycle
A.5 ) Explain one way that deforestation affects the carbon pools.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________