the carbon cycle at a variety of scales Flashcards
the carbon cycle - plant
between the plant and the atmosphere
the carbon cycle - sere
between the stages of plant succession
the carbon cycle - continental
on a global scale between oceans and continents
how long does carbon take in the slow carbon cycle
takes between 100-200 million years to move between rocks, soil, ocean and atmosphere in slow carbon cycle
the movement of carbon from the atmosphere to the lithosphere
begins with rain
atmospheric carbon combines with water to form a weak acid
acid dissolves rocks
rivers carry dissolved ions to oceans
what happens in the oceans ?
calcium ions combine with bicarbonate ions to form calcium carbonate
how does the slow cycle return carbon to the atmosphere?
through volcanoes
plates one sinks beneath the other melts under extreme heat and pressure and heated rock recombines into silicate minerals releasing co2
the fast carbon cycle
the fast carbon cycle is largely the movement of carbon through life forms on earth or the biosphere
what happens during photosynthesis in relation to the fast carbon cycle?
during photosynthesis plants absorb co2 and sunlight to create fuel this process forms the basis of the fast carbon cycle
the fast carbon cycle…
is so tightly tied to plant life that the growing season can be seen in the way carbon dioxide fluctuates in the atmosphere