The document describes the carbon cycle and key concepts about carbon. It discusses how carbon is the fundamental building block of life and is present in all living and once-living organisms. Carbon cycles between reservoirs in the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere through natural fluxes and processes. It moves between these spheres and reservoirs as carbon dioxide and other gases, and is exchanged between the atmosphere, plants, animals and fossils through photosynthesis, respiration, fossil fuel formation and burning.

1. LT2.4 CARBON CYCLE
Learning Objectives:
• Describe the relationship between carbon and living organisms.
• List the major reservoirs of carbon on the Earth.
• Describe the movement of a carbon atom as it is exchanged between the
atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere.
• Describe the processes (fluxes) involved in recycling carbon between
organisms and the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere.
• Identify carbon sinks and sources throughout the biosphere. (HONORS
ONLY)

2. It’s an element
It is a part of
ANYTHING
alive or once alive
Living things use
carbon for energy and
structure
What is Carbon?

3. Carbon is the fundamental building block of life!
All living organisms are built of carbon compounds. It is the
fundamental building block of life and an important component
of many chemical processes.
In the atmosphere, carbon is present primarily as carbon dioxide
(CO2), but also as other less abundant but climatically significant
gases, such as methane (CH4).
Without carbon, life would not exist as we know it. The well-
being and functioning of our planet depends on carbon and how
it cycles through the Earth's systems.

4. Earth’s Systems – Spheres of Earth (VIDEO #1)

5. 1
4
ATMOSPHERE
Envelope of gases surrounding earth
GEOSPHERE/LITHOSPHERE
Rigid outer part of earth’s surface
2 HYDROSPHERE
All bodies of water
5
BIOSPHERE
Regions of earth’s surface occupied by living organisms
3
CRYOSPHERE
Frozen part of earth’s surface
Earth’s Systems – Spheres of Earth

6. CARBON CYCLE (VIDEO #2)

7. CARBON CYCLE – KEY POINTS TO KNOW
• Carbon dioxide is a major
player in the Earth’s energy
balance.
• Life is fueled by carbon
compounds. Animals and
plants give off (release) carbon
dioxide during respiration.
• Plants use carbon dioxide
during photosynthesis and
build new carbon compounds.
oCarbon Reservoirs: the pool
where matter is stored
oCarbon Sink: more carbon
enters a pool than leaves it
oCarbon Source: more carbon
leaves a pool than enters
oCarbon Flux: the process
used to move carbon from
one reservoir to another

8. ATMOSPHERE
PLANTS
ANIMALS
SHORT CYCLE RECAP
Photosynthesis
Consumption
Respiration
Short
Cycle
The Journey of a Carbon Atom

9. ATMOSPHERE
PLANTS
ANIMALS
FORMATION OF
FOSSIL FUELS
BURNING
FOSSIL FUELS
LONG CYCLE RECAP
Long Cycle
The Journey of a Carbon Atom

10. CARBON CYCLE in OCEANS

11. CARBON CYCLE and HUMAN IMPACT (VIDEO #3)