THE CARBON CYCLE AND GLOBAL WARMING 1 CARBON

THE CARBON CYCLE AND GLOBAL WARMING 1

CARBON CYCLE n Movement of carbon between the atmosphere, oceans, biosphere, and geosphere 2

BIOLOGICAL CARBON CYCLE n The movement of carbon through the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration n Also, the consumption of living matter by other organisms n The amount of carbon cycled through annually is a 1, 000 times greater than the geological carbon cycle component 3

RELEASE OF CARBON DIOXIDE n CO 2 is also released into the atmosphere by: 1. Decaying dead matter 2. Forest fires 3. Volcanoes 4. Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) 4

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HUMAN IMPACT n n Since the onset of the industrial revolution, burning of fossil fuels and deforestation have lead to increase of atmospheric CO 2 There is strong evidence that supports the idea that these activities increase the atmosphere’s ability to hold in heat (greenhouse effect) and is resulting in climate change (global warming) 6

GREENHOUSE EFFECT n n n Greenhouse effect: process by which carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere absorb infrared radiation from the sun, forming a “heat blanket” around the Earth Some sunlight is reflected and other is trapped as heat to warm the Earth Enhanced greenhouse effect: caused from an increase of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides from human activities into the air which traps more heat and raises the temperatures of the Earth’s surface 7

CLIMATE CHANGE n n Global Warming: an average increase in the Earth's temperature, which in turn causes changes in climate. (Different than weather) A warmer Earth may lead to changes in 1. rainfall patterns 2. A rise in sea level 3. A wide range of impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans n When most scientists talk about the issue of climate change, their concern is about global warming caused by human activities. 8