37.19 Carbon Cycle Flashcards
What form is carbon cycled in
carbon dioxide
Chemical Formula of carbon dioxide
CO2
How much of the atmosphere is CO2
0.03%
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
Photosynthesis removes CO2 from the atmosphere and incorporates it into organic molecules
What organisms do the first step of the Carbon Cycle
Producers
What is the second step of the Carbon Cycle
The organic molecules and CO2 from step 1 are passed along the food chain through consumers
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
What did the Carboniferous Period lead to
combustion today and the release of CO2 (which adds to the carbon cycle)
how many bonds can carbon form
4
