THE CARBON CYCLE

What Is Carbon?
An element
The basis of life of earth

Found in rocks, oceans, atmosphere, and all living

organisms.

Carbon Cycle
The same carbon atoms are used repeatedly on earth.
They cycle between the earth and the atmosphere.

Plants Use Carbon Dioxide

Plants pull carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.

Using sunlight with the CO2 they make glucose.

This process is photosynthesis.
The carbon can be used by the plant (food) and used to
build the plant (cellulose).

Also gives off CO2 from cellular respiration.

Animals Eat Plants

When organisms eat plants, they take in the carbon
and some of it becomes part of their own bodies.

They generate CO2 from cellular respiration(break

down of glucose) and exhale this CO2 into the
atmosphere.

Animals Eat Animals

When organisms eat animals, they take in the carbon
and some of it becomes part of their own bodies.

They generate CO2 from cellular respiration (break

down of glucose) and exhale this CO2 into the
atmosphere.

Plants and Animal Die

When plants and animals die, most of their bodies are
decomposed and carbon atoms are returned to the
atmosphere.(CO2)

Some are not decomposed fully and end up as

deposits underground (oil, coal, etc.= fossil
fuels=Carbon)

Carbon Slowly Returns to Atmosphere

Carbon in rocks and underground deposits is released
very slowly into the atmosphere.

This process takes many years.

Carbon in Oceans
Additional carbon is stored in the ocean.

CO2 passes into the water from the atmosphere.

Plants & phytoplankton use for photosynthesis.
Many animals pull carbon from water to use in
shells, etc.

Animals die and carbon substances are deposited

at the bottom of the ocean.

Oceans contain earths largest store of carbon.

Burning wood and Fossil

Fuels
Releases carbon compounds in air, water, and soil

* one gallon of gas burned in a car=19lbs of CO2 (Who

Killed the Electric Car, 2004)

Cycle Repeats Over

and Over and Over and
Over

Human Impact
Fossil fuels release carbon stores very slowly

Burning anything releases more carbon into

atmosphere especially fossil fuels

Increased carbon dioxide in atmosphere increases

global warming

Fewer plants mean less CO2 removed from

atmosphere

What We Need to Do
Burn less, especially fossil fuels
Promote plant life, especially trees