Carbon Cycle

Why do we care about carbon?

Why do we care about carbon? All life on Earth is carbon based. This means that all living things are made up of primarily carbon.

Why do we care about carbon? All life on Earth is carbon based. This means that all living things are made up of primarily carbon. Building blocks of life: Carbohydrates/sugars

Why do we care about carbon? All life on Earth is carbon based. This means that all living things are made up of primarily carbon. Building blocks of life: Carbohydrates/sugars Fats/oils

Why do we care about carbon? All life on Earth is carbon based. This means that all living things are made up of primarily carbon. Building blocks of life: Carbohydrates/sugars Fats/oils Proteins/amino acids

Why do we care about carbon? All life on Earth is carbon based. This means that all living things are made up of primarily carbon. Building blocks of life: Carbohydrates/sugars Fats/oils Proteins/amino acids DNA/RNA

Carbon cycle

Carbon cycle Just like water, nitrogen, and phosphorus, carbon is cycled in nature

Carbon cycle Just like water, nitrogen, and phosphorus, carbon is cycled in nature Cycles between: Biotic and abiotic environment

Carbon cycle Just like water, nitrogen, and phosphorus, carbon is cycled in nature Cycles between: Biotic and abiotic environment The geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere

The Carbon Cycle Where do plants get their carbon from?

The Carbon Cycle Where do plants get their carbon from? Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

The Carbon Cycle Where do plants get their carbon from? Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere Where do animals get their carbon from?

The Carbon Cycle Where do plants get their carbon from? Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere Where do animals get their carbon from? Food

Carbon cycle game Instructions: Imagine you are a carbon atom being transformed by various processes in the carbon cycle. Choose a random starting station and record it in the cart below. Roll the die to determine your fate. Record the event that corresponds to your roll, and follow the instructions. Be sure you write down your station after each roll, even if you have not moved. Repeat as many times as you can.

Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time?

Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time? Atmosphere, producers, ocean…

Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time? Atmosphere, producers, ocean… These are called carbon sinks. Sinks are places where much of the carbon on the planet is stored

Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time? Atmosphere, producers, ocean… These are called carbon sinks. Sinks are places where much of the carbon on the planet is stored What is the significance of carbon sinks?

Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time? Atmosphere, producers, ocean… These are called carbon sinks. Sinks are places where much of the carbon on the planet is stored What is the significance of carbon sinks? When the carbon cycle in balanced, the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere from cellular respiration is balanced by the amount of carbon being removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis

Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time? Atmosphere, producers, ocean… These are called carbon sinks. Sinks are places where much of the carbon on the planet is stored What is the significance of carbon sinks? When the carbon cycle in balanced, the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere from cellular respiration is balanced by the amount of carbon being removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis This balance is reached in large part because of carbon sinks

Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time? Atmosphere, producers, ocean… These are called carbon sinks. Sinks are places where much of the carbon on the planet is stored What is the significance of carbon sinks? When the carbon cycle in balanced, the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere from cellular respiration is balanced by the amount of carbon being removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis This balance is reached in large part because of carbon sinks How are we disrupting carbon sinks?

Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time? Atmosphere, producers, ocean… These are called carbon sinks. Sinks are places where much of the carbon on the planet is stored What is the significance of carbon sinks? When the carbon cycle in balanced, the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere from cellular respiration is balanced by the amount of carbon being removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis This balance is reached in large part because of carbon sinks How are we disrupting carbon sinks? Burning fossil fuels, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere

Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time? Atmosphere, producers, ocean… These are called carbon sinks. Sinks are places where much of the carbon on the planet is stored What is the significance of carbon sinks? When the carbon cycle in balanced, the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere from cellular respiration is balanced by the amount of carbon being removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis This balance is reached in large part because of carbon sinks How are we disrupting carbon sinks? Burning fossil fuels, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere Cutting down forests, reducing the amount of photosynthesis occurring (and burning the trees releases even more CO2)

Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time? Atmosphere, producers, ocean… These are called carbon sinks. Sinks are places where much of the carbon on the planet is stored What is the significance of carbon sinks? When the carbon cycle in balanced, the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere from cellular respiration is balanced by the amount of carbon being removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis This balance is reached in large part because of carbon sinks How are we disrupting carbon sinks? Burning fossil fuels, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere Cutting down forests, reducing the amount of photosynthesis occurring (and burning the trees releases even more CO2) What is the effect of disrupting the carbon cycle?

Carbon sinks As a carbon atom, where did you spend most of your time? Atmosphere, producers, ocean… These are called carbon sinks. Sinks are places where much of the carbon on the planet is stored What is the significance of carbon sinks? When the carbon cycle in balanced, the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere from cellular respiration is balanced by the amount of carbon being removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis This balance is reached in large part because of carbon sinks How are we disrupting carbon sinks? Burning fossil fuels, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere Cutting down forests, reducing the amount of photosynthesis occurring (and burning the trees releases even more CO2) What is the effect of disrupting the carbon cycle? An increase in the greenhouse effect

Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse Effect More carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is leading to an increase in the greenhouse effect

Greenhouse Effect More carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is leading to an increase in the greenhouse effect Some of the sun’s radiation is absorbed by the Earth’s surface and some is reflected back

Greenhouse Effect More carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is leading to an increase in the greenhouse effect Some of the sun’s radiation is absorbed by the Earth’s surface and some is reflected back Greenhouse gases, such as CO2, trap the reflected energy as infrared radiation (heat)

Greenhouse Effect More carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is leading to an increase in the greenhouse effect Some of the sun’s radiation is absorbed by the Earth’s surface and some is reflected back Greenhouse gases, such as CO2, trap the reflected energy as infrared radiation (heat) This causes global warming which leads to climate change

Global warming leads to climate change

Global warming leads to climate change Global warming as a result of the greenhouse effect has had widespread consequences on the health of our planet

Global warming leads to climate change Global warming as a result of the greenhouse effect has had widespread consequences on the health of our planet Ice caps and glaciers are melting

Global warming leads to climate change Global warming as a result of the greenhouse effect has had widespread consequences on the health of our planet Ice caps and glaciers are melting The oceans are warming and becoming acidic

Global warming leads to climate change Global warming as a result of the greenhouse effect has had widespread consequences on the health of our planet Ice caps and glaciers are melting The oceans are warming and becoming acidic Extreme weather events are increasing

Global warming leads to climate change Global warming as a result of the greenhouse effect has had widespread consequences on the health of our planet Ice caps and glaciers are melting The oceans are warming and becoming acidic Extreme weather events are increasing Let’s examine each of these in further detail

Melting ice A consequence of melting ice caps and glaciers is an increase in sea levels

Melting ice A consequence of melting ice caps and glaciers is an increase in sea levels The rate of melting is accelerating

Melting ice A consequence of melting ice caps and glaciers is an increase in sea levels The rate of melting is accelerating Recall that white reflects light while dark colours absorb light

Melting ice A consequence of melting ice caps and glaciers is an increase in sea levels The rate of melting is accelerating Recall that white reflects light while dark colours absorb light Previously, the white of the glaciers would reflect part of the suns light

Melting ice A consequence of melting ice caps and glaciers is an increase in sea levels The rate of melting is accelerating Recall that white reflects light while dark colours absorb light Previously, the white of the glaciers would reflect part of the suns light As the ice melts, areas of white on the planet are being replaced with the dark of the rock beneath the glaciers

Melting ice A consequence of melting ice caps and glaciers is an increase in sea levels The rate of melting is accelerating Recall that white reflects light while dark colours absorb light Previously, the white of the glaciers would reflect part of the suns light As the ice melts, areas of white on the planet are being replaced with the dark of the rock beneath the glaciers The dark areas are absorbing more light, causing the Earth to heat at a faster rate

Changing Oceans

Changing Oceans As global temperatures increase, the ocean temperatures increase as well

Changing Oceans As global temperatures increase, the ocean temperatures increase as well This harms coral reefs and other ecosystems HERE

Changing Oceans As global temperatures increase, the ocean temperatures increase as well This harms coral reefs and other ecosystems HERE As the amount of CO2 in the air increases, the amount of dissolved CO2 in the ocean will also increase, causing ocean acidification

Changing Oceans As global temperatures increase, the ocean temperatures increase as well This harms coral reefs and other ecosystems HERE As the amount of CO2 in the air increases, the amount of dissolved CO2 in the ocean will also increase, causing ocean acidification Organisms living in the ocean are harmed by the increase in acidity

Extreme weather events

Extreme weather events Ocean and air currents help to distribute heat around the planet

Extreme weather events Ocean and air currents help to distribute heat around the planet Because our planet is spherical, the sun’s rays hits the surface at different angles, warming it unevenly

Extreme weather events Ocean and air currents help to distribute heat around the planet Because our planet is spherical, the sun’s rays hits the surface at different angles, warming it unevenly Currents distribute this heat, cooling the portions of the Earth where the rays are directly hitting the surface and warming areas that receive only glancing rays from the sun

Extreme weather events Ocean and air currents help to distribute heat around the planet Because our planet is spherical, the sun’s rays hits the surface at different angles, warming it unevenly Currents distribute this heat, cooling the portions of the Earth where the rays are directly hitting the surface and warming areas that receive only glancing rays from the sun Our activities are disrupting these currents so they are unable distribute heat more evenly around the planet

Extreme weather events Ocean and air currents help to distribute heat around the planet Because our planet is spherical, the sun’s rays hits the surface at different angles, warming it unevenly Currents distribute this heat, cooling the portions of the Earth where the rays are directly hitting the surface and warming areas that receive only glancing rays from the sun Our activities are disrupting these currents so they are unable distribute heat more evenly around the planet This is resulting in more extreme weather events (HERE)

Extreme weather events Ocean and air currents help to distribute heat around the planet Because our planet is spherical, the sun’s rays hits the surface at different angles, warming it unevenly Currents distribute this heat, cooling the portions of the Earth where the rays are directly hitting the surface and warming areas that receive only glancing rays from the sun Our activities are disrupting these currents so they are unable distribute heat more evenly around the planet This is resulting in more extreme weather events (HERE) Increase in hurricanes: HERE

What can we do to help?

What can we do to help? Although global warming is having dire consequences on our planet, all is not lost

What can we do to help? Although global warming is having dire consequences on our planet, all is not lost Technological advancements may be the key to combatting climate change

What can we do to help? Your task:

What can we do to help? Your task: Research a technology that is/may be able to help fight climate change The technology can directly impact climate change (for example, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) or indirectly (for example, a more efficient transportation system which will reduce the need for fossil fuels) This technology can be already made or still merely an idea

What can we do to help? Your task: Research a technology that is/may be able to help fight climate change The technology can directly impact climate change (for example, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) or indirectly (for example, a more efficient transportation system which will reduce the need for fossil fuels) This technology can be already made or still merely an idea Summarize your research in a paragraph This should include a description of the problem the technology is combatting, the technology itself, who is working/who worked on developing the technology, when it should be/when it was operational, any issues/concerns about the technology, and what the next steps should be Include citations (website/book titles)

What can we do to help? Your task: Research a technology that is/may be able to help fight climate change The technology can directly impact climate change (for example, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) or indirectly (for example, a more efficient transportation system which will reduce the need for fossil fuels) This technology can be already made or still merely an idea Summarize your research in a paragraph This should include a description of the problem the technology is combatting, the technology itself, who is working/who worked on developing the technology, when it should be/when it was operational, any issues/concerns about the technology, and what the next steps should be Include citations (website/book titles) Prepare a ~2 min presentation The presentation should include a PowerPoint or some other type of visual aid

What can we do to help? Your task: Research a technology that is/may be able to help fight climate change The technology can directly impact climate change (for example, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) or indirectly (for example, a more efficient transportation system which will reduce the need for fossil fuels) This technology can be already made or still merely an idea Summarize your research in a paragraph This should include a description of the problem the technology is combatting, the technology itself, who is working/who worked on developing the technology, when it should be/when it was operational, any issues/concerns about the technology, and what the next steps should be Include citations (website/book titles) Prepare a ~2 min presentation The presentation should include a PowerPoint or some other type of visual aid This should focus on hope. How can we create a better tomorrow?