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    Carbon Cycle: Lecture 6.. 2nd Term 2023

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    Adam Saeed F
    The carbon cycle describes the exchange of carbon among the biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth. Carbon enters the atmosphere as CO2 and is absorbed by plants through photosynthesis, incorporating carbon into animals when consumed. Carbon is released back into the atmosphere when animals and plants die and decompose. Humans impact the carbon cycle through burning fossil fuels, changing land use, and using limestone. Disturbing the carbon cycle can result in climate change and global warming since carbon is essential for life on Earth.

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    Carbon Cycle: Lecture 6.. 2nd Term 2023

    Uploaded by

    Adam Saeed F
    25 views33 pages
    The carbon cycle describes the exchange of carbon among the biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth. Carbon enters the atmosphere as CO2 and is absorbed by plants through photosynthesis, incorporating carbon into animals when consumed. Carbon is released back into the atmosphere when animals and plants die and decompose. Humans impact the carbon cycle through burning fossil fuels, changing land use, and using limestone. Disturbing the carbon cycle can result in climate change and global warming since carbon is essential for life on Earth.

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    The carbon cycle describes the exchange of carbon among the biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth. Carbon enters the atmosphere as CO2 and is absorbed by plants through photosynthesis, incorporating carbon into animals when consumed. Carbon is released back into the atmosphere when animals and plants die and decompose. Humans impact the carbon cycle through burning fossil fuels, changing land use, and using limestone. Disturbing the carbon cycle can result in climate change and global warming since carbon is essential for life on Earth.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    25 views33 pages

    Carbon Cycle: Lecture 6.. 2nd Term 2023

    Uploaded by

    Adam Saeed F
    The carbon cycle describes the exchange of carbon among the biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth. Carbon enters the atmosphere as CO2 and is absorbed by plants through photosynthesis, incorporating carbon into animals when consumed. Carbon is released back into the atmosphere when animals and plants die and decompose. Humans impact the carbon cycle through burning fossil fuels, changing land use, and using limestone. Disturbing the carbon cycle can result in climate change and global warming since carbon is essential for life on Earth.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 33

    Lecture 6..

    2nd term 2023


    Carbon cycle
    BI.1.13 :- Connect the cycling of carbon to global climate change:
    1) forms of carbon within the carbon cycle, how conserved within nature.
    2) effect of humans on the carbon cycle.
    Forms of carbon
    The carbon cycle

    The carbon cycle


    Carbon cycle is the process
    where carbon
    compounds are
    interchanged among the
    biosphere, geosphere,
    hydrosphere, and
    atmosphere of the earth.
    Steps of the carbon cycle

    1. Carbon enters the atmosphere as CO2.

    (CH2O)n +O2 → CO2 + H2O


    2. CO2 is absorbed by autotrophs such as green plants.

    CO2 + H2O + Light energy → (CH2O)n +O2


    3. Animals consume plants, thereby, incorporating carbon into their system.
    4. Animals and plants die, their bodies decompose and carbon is reabsorbed back into the atmosphere.
    Oceanic Carbon Cycle

    • This is essentially a carbon


    cycle but in the sea.
    • Ecologically, oceans take in
    more carbon than it gives out.
    Hence, it is called a “carbon
    sink.” Marine animals convert
    carbon to calcium carbonate
    and this forms the raw building
    materials require to create
    hard shells, similar to the ones
    found in clams and oysters.
    When organisms with calcium carbonate shells die, their body
    decomposes, leaving behind their hard shells.
    These accumulate on the seafloor and are eventually broken down by the
    waves and compacted under enormous pressure, forming limestone.
    When these limestone rocks are exposed to air, they get weathered and
    the carbon is released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
    Carbon reservoirs
    four major reservoirs:

    1. Biosphere
    2. Lithosphere
    3. Hydrosphere
    4. Atmosphere.
    Quantity of carbon – fixed

    About4×1013 kg of carbon is estimated to be fixed per year through photosynthesis,


    in the biosphere.
    Reservoir quantity – fluctuates.

    The amount of carbon in a specific reservoir can change over time as


    carbon moves from one reservoir to another.
    Effect of humans on the carbon cycle.
    Human impact on reservoirs.

    Burning fossil fuels


    Changing land use
    Using limestone to make concrete
    Importance of Carbon Cycle

    If the carbon cycle is disturbed it will result


    in serious consequences such as climatic
    changes and global warming
    Carbon is an integral
    component of every life form
    on earth. From proteins and
    lipids to even our DNA.
    Furthermore, all known life
    on earth is based on carbon.
    Hence, the carbon cycle,
    along with the nitrogen cycle
    and oxygen cycle, plays a
    vital role in the existence of
    life on earth.

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