THE CARBON CYCLE

What Is Carbon?
Carbon

(C) is an element
All things (matter) are
made of elements
Carbon is the most
important element found
in ALL LIFE

Carbon Cycle
Because

carbon sticks
easily to other elements, it
is constantly moving
The same carbon atoms
are used repeatedly on
earth.
They cycle between the
different spheres of Earth

What are the spheres of Earth?

Earth

is divided up into four main

spheres:

The Atmosphere
The

atmosphere is the layer of gases

surrounding the Earth

The Hydrosphere
The

hydrosphere is anywhere that water

exists on Earth (the Water Cycle)

The Geosphere
The

Geosphere (also known as

Lithosphere) is all the solid parts of the
Earth

The Biosphere
The

Biosphere is anywhere on Earth that

life exists

Processes that Transfer Carbon

Between

Earths Systems (Spheres)

- Photosynthesis
- Consumption
- Respiration
- Decomposition
- Combustion
- Weathering
- Degassing
- Dissolution

Photosynthesis
Plants

use energy,
water and carbon
dioxide to produce
their own food in a
process called
photosynthesis

Consumption
When

primary consumers eat plants,

they eat the carbon as well.
If a secondary consumer eats a primary
consumer, the carbon is also transferred

Respiration
Animals

breathe out
carbon through
respiration
Plants release a bit
of carbon as well

Decomposition
When

plants and animals die, most of their bodies are broken down
and the carbon in their bodies is returned to the atmosphere.
Some carbon is not decomposed fully and end up in the geosphere
underground (soil, oil, coal, etc.) or at the bottom of ocean .

Combustion (Burning)
Forest

and grass fires are a natural, required

part of the carbon cycle that release carbon
into the atmosphere and geosphere.
Fire returns carbon to the soil and cleans out
unhealthy plants, allowing new plants to grow.

Weathering
Carbon

in rocks and underground is

released very slowly into the atmosphere.
This process takes many years

Degassing
When

carbon
dioxide in the
ocean comes under
pressure, it is
sometimes
released into the
atmosphere

Dissolution
Carbon

dioxide in the atmosphere

sometimes dissolves into the ocean
(especially if the water is cold)

Carbon Cycle Diagram

The Industrial Revolution

A time when humans
started making things in
factories
Factories needed power
To get this power
humans would burn
coal, which released a
lot of Carbon Dioxide
into the atmosphere

Activity
In

groups of 4, create a skit that models

the transfer of Carbon through the
Carbon Cycle.
1 or more individuals should take the
role of a carbon atom.