Carbon Cycle

Carbon Cycle

The recycling of carbon between living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) parts of the biosphere

Photosynthesis

Plants use the sun's energy to change water and carbon dioxide into sugars (glucose) and Oxygen. Carbon is removed from the atmosphere and stored in food

Cellular Respiration

A process when living organisms (plants & animals) break down sugars (glucose) and oxygen and change them into ATP energy, carbon dioxide CO2, and Water. Carbon is released into the amosphere

Combustion

Burning a substance as a fuel (wood, fossil fuels) releases CO2 into the atmosphere.

Fossil Fuel

Coal, oil, natural gas, and other fuels that are ancient remains of plants and animals.

Decomposition

The breakdown of dead matter and wastes by decomposers; stored carbon from animal remains is released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide

Carbon Dioxide

The form of carbon released into the atmosphere

Products

Substances that come out of a reaction.

Reactants

Substances that go into a reaction.

Products of Photosynthesis.

Glucose (C6H12O6) and Oxygen (O2)

Reactants of Photosynthesis

sunlight, carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O)

Products of Cellular Respiration

ATP (chemical energy), water (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2)

Reactants of Cellular Respiration

glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2)

The Sun

The ultimate source of energy for all living things.

Autotroph

(auto=self, troph=feeding); An organism that can create its own food; producers in an ecosystem

Heterotroph

(hetero=other, troph=feeding) An organism that must eat other organisms; consumers in an ecosystem

Feeding

animals consume plants and other animals for nourishment and pass carbon from organism to organism

Fossilization

Dead plants and animals that become fossils and very slowly become coal or oil (fossil fuels)

Carbon sink

A body or process that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores it

Greenhouse effect

Natural situation in which heat is retained in Earth's atmosphere by carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and other gases

Greenhouse gas

gas in the atmosphere that trap heat (carbon dioxide is an example)

Global warming

an increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere that causes climate change; generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, CFCs & other pollutants

Melting icecaps
Rising ocean levels
Change in weather patterns
Death to plant & animal species

the negative consequences of global warming

Biosphere

Part of Earth in which life exists (including land, water, and air or atmosphere)

Ecosystem

A system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their physical environment