Carbon Cycle

Carbon Stores

an area where carbon accumulates over time through carbon sequestration — capturing gaseous and atmospheric carbon dioxide and storing it in a solid/liquid form

examples: atmosphere, ocean, organisms, soil, coal deposits, sedimentary rock

Carbon Sink

when the carbon inflow to a carbon store is greater than the carbon outflow

examples:

1) forests — sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide into sugars simple sugars like glucose and carbon through photosynthesis

2) ocean — carbon dioxide is used by phytoplankton to make their own food, which feeds the entire marine ecosystem

Carbon Source

when the carbon outflow is greater than the carbon inflow of a carbon store

examples:

1) animals — through cellular respiration, they produce CO2 as they exhale

2) burned/deforested fore

Photosynthesis

Storages: 

from atmosphere to plants

Process:

plants transform carbon dioxide. and water into glucose and oxygen

Cellular Respiration

storages:

from plants and animals to the atmosphere

process:

plants and animals transform glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide and water

Feed/Consumption

storages:

from plants/animals to animals

process:

plants transfer carbon to animals, and those animals transfer carbon to other animals when they are eaten

defecation

storages:

from animals to soil

process:

animals transfer their feces to soil surfaces

decomposition

storages:

from plants/animals to soil and atmosphere

process:

decomposers transform dead organic substances and feces from organisms into soils/sea bed — carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere

dissolution

storages:

from atmosphere to ocean

process:

atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves in ocean water

fossilization

storages:

from soil to coal/oil/natural gas deposits

process:

organic matter under pressure transforms into coal/oil/natural gas deposits

sedimentation

storages:

from aquatic environments to coal/oil/natural gas deposits

process:

organic matter settles to the floor, forming sediment. Under pressure, this transforms into coal/oil/natural gas deposits

extraction

storages:

from coal/oil/natural gas deposits to energy technologies

process:

humans transfer coal/oil/natural gas deposits to energy production technologies (power plants, refineries, car engines)

combustion

storages:

from energy technologies to atmosphere

process:

humans transform coal/oil/natural gas by burning, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

draw the carbon cycle