2.2 - The Carbon Cycle

Question 1

Where is carbon stored short-term?

Answer 1

Vegetation on land, in plants in oceans, land-based animals, marine animals and decaying organic matter in soil.

Question 2

Where is carbon stored for long-terms?

Answer 2

In the atmosphere (co2 gas), dissolved form in the top layers of the ocean, deep ocean waters, coal deposits,min oil/gas deposits and sedimentary/bedrock.

Question 3

What is sedimentation?

Answer 3

The process that contributes to the formation of sedimentary rock.

Question 4

What happens during sedimentation?

Answer 4

Soil particles and decaying/dead organic matter accumulate in layers on the ground or at the bottom of the oceans/ large bodies of water.

Question 5

What is carbonate?

Answer 5

A combination of oxygen and carbon that is dissolved in ocean water. It can be turned into limestone.

Question 6

How is carbon cycled through ecosystems?

Answer 6

Trough photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, ocean process and volcanic eruption/large scale forest fires.

Question 7

What is photosynthesis?

Answer 7

A chemical reaction that converts solar energy into chemical energy

Question 8

What is cycled through the ecosystem in photosynthesis?

Answer 8

Carbon and oxygen

Question 9

What happens during photosynthesis?

Answer 9

Carbon, in the form of CO2, enters the leaves of plants and reacts with water in the presence of sunlight to produce energy rich sugars and oxygen.

Question 10

What is cellular respiration?

Answer 10

The process is which both plants and animals real ease carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere by converting carbohydrates and oxygen into carbon dioxide and water.

Question 11

What happens during cellular respiration?

Answer 11

Energy is released within the cells of organisms and made available for growth, repair and reproduction. CO2 is released as waste.

Question 12

What happens during decomposition?

Answer 12

De composers convert organic molecules such as cellulose back into carbon dioxide, which is released into the atmosphere.

Question 13

What are three things that contribute carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?

Answer 13

Volcanic eruptions, decomposing trees and forest fires

Question 14

What are some human activities that have changed the natural carbon cycle?

Answer 14

Industry, motorized transportation, land clearing, agriculture and urban expansion.

Question 15

How much has the amount of carbon in the atmosphere increased since the industrial revolution?

Answer 15

30%

Question 16

How come carbon levels are increasing so quickly?

Answer 16

Because we are producing so much carbon that the natural carbon cycle cannot move all of it into stores fast enough.

Question 17

Why is carbon essential to all living things?

Answer 17

All living things contain billions of carbon atoms in their cells. It is the main component in almost all chemical reactions that sustain life.