Carbon Cycle

APES

Direct Exchange

CO2 moves between the atmosphere by dissolving in & out of the ocean water at the surface.

Why is there an increase in ocean acidification?

An increase in atmospheric CO2 leads to an increase in ocean CO2, leading to ocean acidification.

How can burning of fossil fuels lead to ocean acidification?

Burning fossil fuels puts more CO2 into the atmosphere, which is then dissolved into the ocean.

Algae & phytoplankton

Takes CO2 out of ocean & atmosphere through photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis

Carbon Dioxide + Water + Sunlight > Glucose and Oxygen.

Respiration

O2 and C6H12O6 > CO2 and H2O

Calcium Carbonate Skeleton

Outer shell made by using Carbon.

Calcium Carbonate

CaCO3

Sedimentation

Where particles settle to the bottom of a body of water.
CaCO3 precipitates out as sediment, settles on ocean floor.

Burial

Pressure of water compresses sediments that contain carbon, to form sedimentary rock (limestone, a long term carbon reservoir)

What can disrupt biogeochemical cycles?

human Activity

Atmosphere

short term carbon reservoir, found in a gaseous form

Carbon sink

Anything that absorbs more carbon than it releases.

Surface Ocean

Phytoplankton absorb CO2, making the surface ocean a carbon sink/reservoir.

Forests/Plant Biomass

Trees use photosynthesis and store carbon in their biomass.

Decomposition

When decomposers break down organic matter, they create organic carbon, and during respiration release CO2 into the atmosphere as a byproduct.

Organic Carbon

from dead plants and animals.

Soil carbon

Comes from when the decomposers breakdown the sugars from the body they are decomposing.

Fossil carbon

Fossilized remains of plants and animals, contains carbon-rich organic matter.

What’s the largest reservoir for carbon?

Deep ocean sediments and fossil carbon.

How does fossil fuels add carbon into the oxygen?

They undergo a reaction with oxygen, forming CO2 gas, which is released directly into the atmosphere.