1. The Earth System and its subsystems: MATTER is recycled over and over again
Earth’s Cycles

2. Earth system CYCLES Hydrological cycle Carbon cycle Rock cycle
Figure 1.17
Hydrological cycle
Carbon cycle
Rock cycle
Energy Cycle
Recycling cycle
Interface:
A common boundary where different parts of a system come in contact and interact

3. Cycles are linked: a change in one cycle can produce change in any or all the others

4. Hydrologic Cycle water cycle
The continuous circulation (recycling) of water through the hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere and geosphere
Water in all three phases
Solid ice, liquid water, gaseous water vapor.

5. Hydrologic Cycle

6. Water enters the atmosphere by
Water leaves the atmosphere as
-evaporation (from oceans and lakes,
soil, surfaces)
-transpiration (from plants) also called evapo-transpiration.
-perspiration, respiration from animals
- precipitation from clouds (rain, snow)
- infiltration (soaks into ground)
- interception by trees
- condensation (dew)
- run-off into oceans

7. Rock Cycle

8. Carbon is in many forms: Carbon cycle is called the Bio-geo-chemical cycle
SOLID
LIQUID
GAS

9. The Carbon Cycle and the Geosphere
Diamonds are pure Carbon
Limestone CaCO3
Outgassing of CO2 in volcanic eruptions
Fossil fuels/coal contain hydrocarbons

10. Dissolves in and out of the ocean
Phytoplankton: photosynthesis

11. Carbon goes into the atmosphere:
Carbon goes out of the atmosphere:
-burning fossil fuels (combustion)
- exhaling (respiration)
- decomposition of organic matter
volcanic eruptions
Dissolving of limestone rock
- Photosynthesis (plants take it in)
- STORED in organic (all living) matter
- Dissolves into oceans
Phytoplankton (plants in ocean) take it in
Shells of marine organisms
Stored in rocks (limestone, chalk)
Video clip on the Carbon Cycle

12. Feedback mechanisms
Positive-feedback mechanisms add change to the system for the better or worse.
Negative-feedback mechanisms resist change and stabilize the system (“homeostasis”)
Combustion: burning fossil fuels, industry, forest fires,
deforestation: cutting down large areas of trees - reduces photosynthesis
Respiration and decomposition of animals
Plants and phytoplankton use photosynthesis to remove CO2
Whales store CO2
Calcifiers use and store CO2 in their shells and skeletons; these shells and the remains of the organisms become limestone rock for even longer term storage

13. Carbon Cycle Lab A Year in The Life of Earth’s Carbon Dioxide
Bozeman Science Climate change

14. The Geosphere in the Carbon Cycle Lab Part 1
Purpose:
Release carbon that was stored in a carbon sink in the ocean back into the carbon cycle by releasing the CO2 in limestone rock.
Hypothesis:
Procedures:
React limestone or chalk to weak acid solution.
Collect and test the gas that is released.
Identify the gas using an indicator.
CaCO HCl  CO CaCl H2O
Limestone acid carbon calcium water
rock dioxide chloride

15. Carbon Sink
a forest, ocean, or other natural environment viewed in terms of its ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

16. Part 1: The Geosphere in the Carbon Cycle
CO2 gas
In the atmosphere
CO2 from combustion combines with H2O in the atmosphere to forms acidic rain
CO2 dissolves into the ocean
Millions of years of weathering of rocks on land runs-off and allows Ca ions to be dissolved into the ocean.
When the limestone rock is uplifted, exposed and weathered, the carbon then returns to the atmosphere.
CaCO3
When calcifers die and decay their shells and skeletons collect and compact on the sea floor to form limestone rock.
Carbon is stored in the rock for millions of years: CARBON SINK
Carbonate is removed from the ocean to make the shells and bones of marine animals.
Limestone rock CaCO3

17. Atmosphere, Hydrosphere and the Carbon Cycle Lab Part 2
Purpose:
Investigate the acidity of the ocean due to carbon dioxide.
Hypothesis:
Procedures:
Generate CO2
Dissolve CO2 into water to change the pH to be more acidic
Measure the change in pH

18. Atmosphere and the Carbon Cycle Lab Part 2 (cont.)
Data: (qualitative observations and/or quantitative data, data table:
Conclusion /Summary:
Questions:

19. H+ ions accumulate
OH- ions accumulate

20. Ocean Acidification Carbon dioxide + water --------- carbonic acid
CO H2O  H2CO3
CO2 levels, emissions
ocean acidification 3 min

21. The Biosphere and the Carbon Cycle Lab Part 3
Purpose:
Determine the effect of acidic ocean water on calcifiers’ shells and skeletons.
Hypothesis:
Procedures:
Online Sea Urchin Virtual Lab
Expose the embryos to a more acidic environment (5 days).
3. Determine the change in appearance/mass/arm length.

22. The Biosphere and the Carbon Cycle Lab Part 3 (cont.)
Data: (qualitative observations and/or quantitative data, data table:
Calculate the percent % change in mass
Conclusion /Summary:
Questions:

23. SEA URCHIN EXAMPLES OF MARINE CALCIFIERS (A) CORALLINE ALGAE
(B) HALIMEDA
(C) BENTHIC
FORAMINIFERA
(D) REEF-BUILDING CORAL
(E) DEEP-WATER CORAL
(F ) BRYOZOAN
(G) MOLLUSK
(H) ECHINODERM (BRITTLE STAR)
(I) CRUSTACEAN (LOBSTER)
SEA URCHIN

24. Part 3: The Biosphere and the Carbon Cycle
CO2 gas
In the atmosphere
CO2 dissolves into the ocean
Millions of years of weathering of rocks on land runs-off and allows Ca ions to be dissolved into the ocean.
CaCO HCl  CO CaCl H2O
Calcium hydrochloric carbon calcium water
Carbonate acid dioxide chloride
CaCO3
Carbonate is removed from the ocean, combined with the calcium to make the shells and bones of marine animals.

25. Fossil Limestone formation
Limestone rock
CaCO3
Fossil Limestone formation
Chalk limestone

27. Planet Earth: Open or Closed System?
Can systems CHANGE? How?

28. Earth system science System
Closed systems: MATTER is contained, but energy can freely flow in and out.
Open systems - both energy and matter flow into and out of the system B A C D

29. Energy Cycle Sources of ENERGY:
SUN – drives external processes such as weather, climate, ocean circulation and erosional processes
Earth’s interior heat– from our early formation and continuous radioactive decay of elements
drives internal processes including volcanoes, earthquakes and mountain building