1.2 Biogeochemical Cycles (Carbon) Flashcards
What form is carbon cycled in
carbon dioxide (CO2)
Chemical Formula of carbon dioxide
CO2
How much of the atmosphere is CO2
super small
Does carbon dioxide cycle globally or locally
globally
What is the abiotic reservoir of carbon dioxide
the atmosphere
How many steps does the Carbon Cycle have
5
What is the first step of the Carbon Cycle
autotrophs take out CO2 with photosynthesis (put in organic molecules)
What organisms do the first step of the Carbon Cycle
Producers - auto/chemoautotrophs
What is the second step of the Carbon Cycle
The organic molecules are eaten/used in organic molecules of organisms
What is the third step of the Carbon Cycle
Cellular Respiration returns CO2 to the atmosphere as a waste product
What organisms do the third step of the Carbon Cycle
producers and consumers
What is the fourth step of the Carbon Cycle
Decomposers break down carbon compounds in detritus (of producers and consumers) and release it as CO2
What is also released in the fourth step of the Carbon Cycle
CO2 because the decomposers also respire and release CO2
What is the fifth step of the carbon cycle?
The increased burning of wood, deforestation, fossil fuels, and volcanic erruptions raises the level of CO2 in the atmosphere
Why does the burning of wood increase CO2
Burning releases CO2 and trees are carbon sinks, so when you burn them there is more carbon in the air because they are not in the air
On a global scale, the return of CO2 to the atmosphere by cellular respiration and the removal by photosynthesis is
closely balanced
What would happen to the carbon cycle if all the decomposers suddenly “went on strike” and stopped working?
Carbon would accumulate in organic material, the atmospheric reservoir of carbon would decline, and plants would eventually be starved for CO2.
Combustion
burning
Carboniferous Period
the period in time in which many fossil fuels were largely deposited because of the sudden rise and fall of tides and all this carbon got stuch in ice
What did the Carboniferous Period lead to
combustion today and the release of CO2 (which adds to the carbon cycle)
how is CO2 lost as a waste product
cellular respiration – done by decomposers producers and consumers
what is carbon important for
literally all of the organic molecules and therefore LIFEEE
carbon fixation is done through what chemical process
photosynthesis
where is CO2 absorbed
ocean
photosynthesis
The process by which energy from sunlight is used to transform carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the organic matter that fuels food webs
cellular respiration
The process by which living organisms break down organic compounds to produce usable energy, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as a by-product
carbon cycle
The complex flow of carbon between inorganic and organic sources within the environment
carbon reservoirs
ares of earth where large amounts of carbon are stored
examples of inorganic reservoirs
rocks water sediments
examples of organic reservoirs
plants animals humans orhter living organisms
is more carbon stored in organic or inorganic reservoirs
inorganic
explain the parts of the biological side of the carbon cycle
- photosynthesis (take in CO2)
- cellular respiration (release CO2)
- Decomposition (release CO2)
explain the geological part of the carbon cycle
- weathering/runoff
- oceans absorbs CO2 –> bicarbonate (in shells)
- carbon in rocks
human impacts on the carbon cycle
- deforestation
- burning forest fuels
