Download Carbon cycle

The complex molecules that
comprise organisms are
based on carbon
CB 54.17
Carbon cycle
Solar energy: incoming and
outgoing
http://www.esr.org/outreach/climate_change/basics/basics.html
http://www.esr.org/outreach/climate_change/basics/basics.html
CO2 and other greenhouse gases keep heat
from radiating back into space
http://www.esr.org/outreach/climate_change/basics/basics.html
CO2 levels in Hawaii and average
global temp.
CB 54.24
http://www.esr.org/outreach/climate_change/basics/basics.html
http://www.esr.org/outreach/climate_change/basics/basics.html
http://www.esr.org/outreach/climate_change/basics/basics.html
Recent increases in global temperature have
reversed a slight cooling trend
Vikings in
Greenland in
the 12001400’s
As the
climate
cooled, the
Vikings
were forced
to abandon
their
outposts
370
Relative contributions to Global Warming
~300 m people
~500 m people
~2.5 b people
Effects of global
warming are already
visible
http://www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org/pages/glaciers.
html
http://blogs.sciencemag.org/newsblog/2007/02/h
oldren_wants_d.html#more
http://podcasts.aaas.org/science_podcast/Science
Podcast_070216.mp3
Observed and projected ice cap melting
http://www.esr.org/outreach/climate_change/basics/basics.html
http://www.esr.org/outreach/climate_change/basics/basics.html
Global Change & Human Health
(2001) V 2 # 1 pg 64
Precipitation changes 1900 to 2000
Change in risk of malaria by 2080
Global Change & Human Health (2001) V 2 # 1 pg 64
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/sci;319/5862/424
World Primary Energy Supply 2004
http://www.sciencemag.org/sciext/sustainability/
U.S. Energy use in 2005
http://www.sciencemag.org/sciext/sustainability/
Research money
spent on
alternative energy
http://www.sciencemag.org/sciext/sustainability/
Much of our Alternative Energy Research is
in Biofuels
~28% of U.S. energy is used in transportation
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/uses/transportation.html U.S. Department of Energy, Transportation Energy Data Book: Edition 26-2007.
In 2005, there were almost 239 million
vehicles (cars, buses, and trucks) in the United
States.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/uses/transportation.html U.S. Department of Energy, Transportation Energy Data Book: Edition 26-2007.
Automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, and buses drove
nearly 3.0 trillion miles in 2005. That’s almost 1/12th
the distance to the nearest (non-sun) star. It’s like
driving to the sun and back 13,440 times.
Transportation
fuel use
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/uses/transport
ation.html U.S. Department of Energy, Transportation
Energy Data Book: Edition 26-2007.
Vehicle Energy Use
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/uses/transportation.html
U.S. Department of Energy, Transportation Energy Data Book:
Edition 26-2007.
Ethanol vs Gasoline prices
http://www.sciencemag.org/sciext/sustainability/
Biofuel production
http://www.sciencemag.org/sciext/sustainability/
Fermentation: break
down sugar to ethanol
http://www.iogen.ca/images/m1
_fuel_cycle2.jpg
Lignin removal is necessary for cellulose
processing
Nature Biotechnology 20, 557 - 558 (2002)
CB 36.2
Water and
minerals move
up from the
ground in xylem.
water transport
limits plant growth
Most of wood
is xylem
CB 35.20
Xylem is tough, and full of lignin- inhibits
the ability to use plants to produce biofuels
xylem
Lignin removal is necessary for cellulose
processing
Nature Biotechnology 20, 557 - 558 (2002)
Research is ongoing to produce woody and
non-woody plants with decreased lignin to
improve the efficiency of biofuel production
xylem
Biofuel production
http://www.sciencemag.org/sciext/sustainability/
Much of our Alternative Energy Research is
in Biofuels
Human resource production and use
Worldwide Grain Production
per Person
http://www.earth-policy.org/Updates/2008/Update69.htm
World Grain Stocks as Days of Consumption
http://www.earth-policy.org/Updates/2008/Update69.htm
~60 percent of the world grain harvest is consumed as food,
~36 percent as feed, and ~3 percent as fuel. While the use of
grain for food and feed grows by roughly 1 percent per year,
that used for fuel is growing by over 20 percent per year.
http://www.earth-policy.org/Updates/2008/Update69.htm
Corn prices late 1999 - Dec 2007
Wheat prices
http://www.earthpolicy.org/Updates/2008/
Update69.htm
http://www.earth-policy.org/Updates/2008/Update69.htm
Increasing oil prices drive up potential profit,
and cost of food crops
Cost of oil----Profitable cost of corn for ethanol
$50 ---- $4/bushel
$100 ---- $7/bushel
$140 ---- $10/bushel
Current corn price: ~$8/bushel
http://www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/manage/newsletters/fefo07_11/fefo07_11.html
http://www.earth-policy.org/Updates/2008/Update69.htm
Whereas previous dramatic rises in world
grain prices were weather-induced, this one is
policy-induced and can be dealt with by policy
adjustments. If the entire U.S. grain harvest
were converted into ethanol, it would satisfy
scarcely 18 percent of our automotive fuel
needs.
http://www.earth-policy.org/Updates/2008/Update69.htm