In the process of photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and water (H2O) from the soil.
Using the energy of sunlight, plants build molecules of glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2).
How do plants on Earth affect the amount of carbon in Earth’s atmosphere?
Animals eat plants and produce carbon dioxide and water.
How do animals affect the amount of carbon in Earth’s atmosphere?
Earth can be divided into four systems. The atmosphere is the air above Earth’s surface. The hydrosphere is composed of all of Earth’s water. The geosphere is the rocky, non-living part of Earth. The biosphere consists of all living things, including people. Some scientists use the term “anthroposphere” to describe everything made or modified by humans.
Question: How does carbon move between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere?
From the Earth's Atmosphere, a carbon atom can go to land plants, oceanic CO2 and exposed rock.
Read the description of land plants. How did the carbon atom get from the atmosphere to a plant?
Read the description for Land animals. How did the carbon atom get from land plants into the animal?
Land animals plants (or other animals that eat plants) for energy.
The carbon atom returns to the Atmospheric CO2. How did the carbon atom get from land animals back to the atmosphere?
Identify where each sphere is represented in this example of the carbon cycle.
What is one reason that the carbon cycle is important to living things and the environment?
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Part 2
Background information: Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, formed over millions of years from the remains of ancient plants and animals. The burning of fossil fuels, as well as other human activities, increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Question: How does human activity affect the carbon cycle?
Observe the path a carbon atom takes to form petroleum (oil), starting and ending in the atmosphere.
How can the carbon stored in petroleum (oil) return to the atmosphere?
Observe the path a carbon atom takes to form coal, starting and ending in the atmosphere.
How can the carbon stored in petroleum (oil) return to the atmosphere?
Observe the path a carbon atom takes to form natural gas, starting and ending in the atmosphere.
How can the carbon stored in petroleum (oil) return to the atmosphere?
In general, how do many human activities influence the carbon cycle?
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