Nutrient Cycles Carbon Recall Carbon Stores Accumulations of
Nutrient Cycles: Carbon
Recall Carbon Stores Accumulations of carbon in the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and land. Nutrient Cycles Continuous flow of nutrients in and out of stores by biotic and abiotic processes, such as decomposition and river run-off.
Carbon • Carbon is found in all living things • The fossil fuels are chiefly hydrocarbons. • Essential component to life-sustaining chemical reactions
What’s the point of nutrient cycles?
Carbon Stores
Long term 1 tonne = 1000 kilograms 1 gigatonne = 109 tonnes = 1012 kg
Long-term Stores - underground (oil, gas, natural gas and coal) - sedimentary rock (limestone) - ocean floor (old shells)
Carbon Stores Short term
Short-term Stores - living things in water & on land - rotting tissue of plants/animals - atmosphere (air) - ocean (dissolved in the water)
Cycling C through ecosystems Photosynthesi s. Converting solar energy into chemical energy. Energy (sunlight) + 6 CO 2 + 6 H 2 O → C 6 H 12 O 6 (glucose/carbohydrates) + 6 O 2
Cycling C through ecosystems Photosynthesi s. Converting solar energy into chemical energy. Energy (sunlight) + 6 CO 2 + 6 H 2 O → C 6 H 12 O 6 (glucose/carbohydrates) + 6 O 2
Cycling C through ecosystems Cellular How plants and respiration animals release CO 2 back into the atmosphere. C 6 H 12 O 6 (glucose) + 6 O 2 → 6 CO 2 + 6 H 2 O + energy
Cycling C through ecosystems Decompositi on Breaking down dead organic matter such as cellulose, glucose, back into CO 2.
Cycling C through ecosystems - Ocean mixing moves CO 2 around the world - CO 2 sinks in cold ocean waters flows to the warm equator and evaporates into the air.
Cycling C through ecosystems Ocean mixing • Moves carbon throughout the oceans. • Pumps more carbon into the oceans than is released to the atmosphere.
Cycling C through ecosystems Combustion: (burning, engines, volcanoes, forest fires) fossil fuels + O 2 CO 2 + H 2 O + ENERGY (oil, gas, natural gas, coal) Volcanic activity, decomposing trees, forest fires all release CO 2
Cycling C through ecosystems
What do you know about climate change?
Effects of Human Activities on the Carbon Cycle Burning of fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal) contributes to huge amounts of CO 2 to the atmosphere. As does changes in land usage.
What is climate change?
Find Out More • Google Canada COP 21 Paris • Elizabeth May’s Facebook has live updates from COP 21: https: //www. facebook. com/Elizabeth. May. Gr een. Leader • BP Energy Economics http: //www. bp. com/en/global/corporate/en ergy-economics/statistical-review-of-worldenergy. html • These are just a few places to get information – please go look up more!
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