The Carbon Cycle
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Transcript of The Carbon Cycle
A constant interaction between the biotic and abiotic
components of the biosphere makes it a dynamic, but a
stable system. Such interactions include transfer of matter
and energy between the different components of the
biosphere.
The nutrient elements derived from the Earth by the living
organisms, for their growth and metabolism are called
biogeochemicals. These biogeochemicals are continuously
recycled. The movement of nutrient elements through the
living and non-living components of biosphere, is called
biogeochemical cycle of matter. The term ‘biogeochemical
cycle’ indicates that chemicals circulate through life(bio)
and through Earth(geo) again and again(cycles). The
biogeochemical cycles are also known as nutrient cycles.
Today I am going to present the powerpoint presentation
on the topic of The Carbon Cycle
Carbon is an element…
It is the 6th element in the periodic table…..
The basic building blocks of humans, animals and plants and some
greenhouse gases
They are also found in rocks, oceans, atmosphere
The carbon cycle plays an important role to earth. As humans are
trying to change the cycle, life on earth will be dangerously affected.
Trees and plant life helps to prevent carbon from building in one place.
To fulfill the ever growing consumption demands of natural resources,
humans are cutting down more trees. The carbon dioxide collected by
these trees returns to the atmosphere and oceans. It increases the
level of greenhouse gases, increasing the greenhouse effect, trapping
heat into a planet and increasing global warming.
Carbon gets into the atmosphere from the soil, waste products,
decomposing animals, burning sediment from the earth and events like
a volcanic eruption. Some of this carbon goes into the ocean and some
to the atmosphere. Plants found on land and phytoplankton found in
the ocean absorb carbon during photosynthesis, thus creating
carbohydrates and sugars. When land animals and marine life consume
plants or phytoplankton, carbon is obtained from photosynthesis.
Organisms release this carbon when they breathe, create waste
products, die or decompose. Carbon then returns to the soil and is
released into the atmosphere and some forms into rocks.
Carbon moves from living things to the atmosphere-When animals exhale, they release carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere. Animals and plants get rid of
carbon dioxide through a process known as respiration.
Carbon moves from fossil fuels to the atmosphere when fuels are burned- Fossil fuels are burned in power factories, power plants, cars and trucks with most of the carbon existing in carbon dioxide gas. The carbon from these fuels enters the atmosphere
and most becomes dissolved in seawater.
Carbon moves from the atmosphere to the oceans-The ocean and other water bodies absorb carbon
from the atmosphere.
Carbon moves from the atmosphere to plants-Carbon is combined with a gas called carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. With the sun’s aid and photosynthesis, carbon dioxide is pulled from the
air to make plant food using the carbon.
Carbon moves from plants to animals- The carbon that is in plants moves to the animals that eat them. These animals are eaten by other animals
and the carbon moves to these carnivores through the food chain.
Carbon moves from plants and animals to the ground- The bodies, wood and leaves of plants and animals decay when they die. This brings carbon
into the ground which becomes fossil fuels.
FLOWCHART OF CARBON CYCLECarbon in Atmosphere
Plants use carbon to make food
Animals eat plants and take
in carbon
Plants and animals die
Decomposers break down dead things,
releasing carbon to atmosphere and
soil
Bodies not decomposed — after many years, become part of oil or coal
deposits
Fossil fuels are burned; carbon is
returned to atmosphere
Carbon slowly released from these substances returns
to atmosphere
It is critical to the food chain-If plants and other
organisms who photosynthesize were not able to get
carbon, they would die as they could not produce
food. This would result in other organisms that
depend on them for food dying.
Carbon is found in the oceans, forests and the
atmosphere known as sinks. These areas would collect
dangerous levels of carbon without the carbon cycle.
This would most likely kill living organisms that live in
this area.
The cycle is important as it allows carbon to flow
from areas where it is collected into other areas of
the earth.
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
BIBLIOGRAPHYFor this project, I have taken help of a number of
resources . Some of them are:
Internet (Wikipedia)
Google Images
Reference Books
I want to thank our subject teacher to give us such a
knowledgeable project. I also want to thank my parents in
helping me in a lot of way.