The Carbon Cycle

The Cycle
1. First, carbon enters the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide from combustion
and respiration.
2. Next, producers absorb the carbon dioxide to make carbohydrates in the process of
photosynthesis.
3. Then carbon compounds are passed along the food chain by animals who eat the
plants. After the carbon is consumed, most of it is exhaled during respiration.
Eventually the plants and animals die.
4. Decomposers eat the dead organisms and the carbon in their bodies is released back
into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
5. Sometimes decomposition doesnt happen and the organism becomes available for
combustion as a fossil fuel.
6. Once the organism is burned as a fossil fuel it is released back into the atmosphere and
continues in the carbon cycle.
Vocabulary
Decomposition- Decaying; Rotting away.
Photosynthesis- The process that occurs when plants and some other organisms use
sunlight to synthesize foods from CO2 and H2O.
Respiration- A process in organisms that includes the production of energy with the
intake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide.
Combustion- A process where something is burned.
Eutrophication- Excessive amount of nutrients, caused by runoff from the land,
which causes growth of plant life and death of animals due to the lack of oxygen
available.
Carbon sinks- A natural environment that has the ability to absorb carbon from
the atmosphere.
Carbonates- A salt of carbonic acid.
Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis- The process that occurs when plants

and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize
foods from CO2 and H2O.

The Process of photosynthesis is a crucial part of the carbon

cycle because plants give off oxygen for animals to breathe.
The carbon dioxide goes into the plant and the plant turns it
into oxygen and puts it back into the atmosphere.
Respiration
Animals eat plants and take carbon into their bodies.
Respiration- A process in organisms that includes the production of energy
with the intake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide.

Respiration is basically the opposite of photosynthesis. The animals inhale the

oxygen and release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere for plants to turn
back into oxygen.
Combustion

Combustion- A process where something is burned.

When fossil fuels are burned that is called combustion. You are burning fossil fuels
every time you drive a car that isnt electric or solar. This is harmful to the
environment because it releases methane gas that damages the ozone layer. Burning
too many fossil fuels contributes to eutrophication. This is bad because it causes an
excessive amount of nutrients and
Decomposition

Decomposition- Decaying; Rotting away.

Decomposition can happen slowly or fast depending on what is causing something to

decompose. If you are trying to speed up the process of decomposition while doing
something like composting, you can can use decomposers such as worms.
Decomposition is very important because it releases carbon back into the atmosphere
in a natural way instead of burning it (combustion). Sometimes things can not be
decomposed because they are blocked by something. For example, when people throw
away decomposable products and leave them at the dump in garbage bags, the
products do not get a chance to decompose. That is bad for the environment because
harmful gasses build up in landfills.
Solution
One way to help get carbon into plants without
burning more fossil fuels is by composting.
Composting is when you collect things like banana
peels and put them in a bin to decompose. While
decomposing, carbon dioxide is released and also
ingested by things like worms and ants. These insects
use respiration to send carbon dioxide back into the
atmosphere. Composting is easy! You basically get a
bin and put all of your banana peels, old fruits and
vegetables, eggshells, etc. and wait for it to
decompose.

Image Link
Youtube Video

https://youtu.be/nzImo8kSXiU
Sources

GCSE Bitesize: Carbon Cycle. BBC, BBC, 2014,

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_gateway_pre_2011/greenworld/recyclingr
ev1.shtml.
The Issues of Energy and Carbon Cycle: New Perspectives for Assessing the Environmental Impact of
Animal Waste Utilization. Bioresource Technology, Elsevier, 22 June 2004,
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852404001750.
The Carbon Cycle. YouTube, 12 Aug. 2013, youtu.be/nzImo8kSXiU.