Carbon is cycled through interactions between living and non-living things.The carbon cycle:
Carbon dioxide gas moves from the atmosphere into the biosphere through photosynthesis and cellular respiration and is a key component in life. Carbon dioxide also moves back to the atmosphere when organisms die and decompose. Carbon enters the geosphere when the remains of organisms are trapped under sediment layers. Carbon is in the hydrosphere as trapped gas. |
Not all carbon in the carbon cycle is used immediately by living things
A carbon sink is a natural reservoir that stores carbon-containing chemical compounds accumulated over an indefinite period of time. Coal is an example of a long term sink. Human are an example of a short term sink, carbon is also stored in the woody tissue of living trees .
and the decomposing remains of organisms buried deep in the ground. Over time, this stored carbon transforms into carbon-rich fossil fuels (coal, oil, naturalgas)
Upsetting the Balance
The amount of carbon dioxide used by photosynthesis and given off by cellular respiration is nearly thesame (carbon dioxide is balanced).
Human activities can upset this balance. Examples: burning trees, coal, oil, and natural gas releases stored carbon into the air as carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. Extra carbon dioxide in the air traps heat in the atmosphere leading to global warming and global climate change (see Greenbouse Effect).
A carbon sink is a natural reservoir that stores carbon-containing chemical compounds accumulated over an indefinite period of time. Coal is an example of a long term sink. Human are an example of a short term sink, carbon is also stored in the woody tissue of living trees .
and the decomposing remains of organisms buried deep in the ground. Over time, this stored carbon transforms into carbon-rich fossil fuels (coal, oil, naturalgas)
Upsetting the Balance
The amount of carbon dioxide used by photosynthesis and given off by cellular respiration is nearly thesame (carbon dioxide is balanced).
Human activities can upset this balance. Examples: burning trees, coal, oil, and natural gas releases stored carbon into the air as carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. Extra carbon dioxide in the air traps heat in the atmosphere leading to global warming and global climate change (see Greenbouse Effect).
The Greenhouse effect; Global Warming and Global Climate Change
Global warming: An increase in the average temperature of Earth’s surface. Global climate change: A long-term change in Earth’s climate and can be caused by natural or human activity. The Natural Greenhouse Effect occurs naturally due to gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and nitrous oxide. The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect is a result of human activities increasing natural levels of Greenhouse Gases, such as Carbon dioxide, and adding other synthetic gases such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) which destroy the ozone layer that protects the Earth. |
The Effects of Excess Carbon in the Carbon Cycle
Earth’s surface temperature: Increased by between 0.56°C and 0.92°C in the past 100 years. This “small” change can affect conditions in all of Earth’s spheres. Melting Sea and Land Ice: Melting sea and land ice has led to destruction of habitats for polar organisms, increased local flooding, and release of methane gas (a greenhouse gas) from melting permafrost. Rising sea level: Some islands have gone underwater. Salt water gets into the drinking water supply. Coastal flooding and destruction of wetlands. Changing ocean chemistry: Ocean becomes more acidic because it absorbs more carbon dioxide from the air. An acidic and warming ocean can destroy coral reefs and corals themselves (acidity dissolves the organisms’ shells) effecting ecoststems and habitats. |
Common Natural Greenhouse Gas
1) Water vapour
2) Carbon dioxide
3) Methane
4) Nitrous oxide
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