Carbon Cycle Flashcards
Carbon
Carbon is the fourth most abundant element on Earth.
It is the main component of cells and forms about 18% of the human body
It can be used to determine the age of artifacts and fossils by looking at how much Carbon-14 has decayed
Carbon can form long-chained molecules which are the basis for fats, carbohydrates, DNA and proteins
Carbon is an integral Component of fuels (coal and gas)
Carbon Sources
Carbon Sources are processes that release carbon into the atmosphere
What is combustion of fossil fuels?
Burning of fossil fuels releases carbon into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide
Forest fires impact?
Release carbon that was stored in plant material into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide.
What is respiration?
Respiration in plants and animals releases carbon into the atmosphere.
Volcanoes impact?
Release carbon into the atmosphere
Decomposition impact?
Releases carbon into the air soil and water
Impacts on ocean coral
As oceans increase in temperature, calcium carbonate in corals is broken down leading to higher carbon levels and ocean acidification
What are carbon sinks?
Carbon sinks store carbon for a temporary amount of time
Plants as carbon sinks?
They absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and store the carbon as sugar in their cells.
Ocean as a carbon sink?
Absorbs carbon dioxide in a dissolved form.
Compaction?
Stores carbon in the form of rocks and fossil fuels.
What are the shells of some organisms made of?
The shells of marine organisms and some terrestrial organisms are made from calcium carbonate
What does the carbon cycle show?
The transfer of carbon from source to sink and vice versa, is referred to as the carbon cycle.
