1. The Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles

2. The Carbon Cycle
Today we hear a lot about the connection between carbon dioxide and global warming
One of the most important greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide.
Today we will look at how it moves around our planet!

3. Carbon Cycle: In the Atmosphere
Carbon exists in our atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
Carbon also plays a huge role in the molecular make-up of all living organisms.
So we first need to get it out of the air!

4. Carbon Cycle: Out of the Atmosphere
Carbon is brought out of the atmosphere by plants through photosynthesis.
During this process CO2 is turned into a high energy compound called glucose (sugar).

5. Carbon Cycle: After plants
Once carbon is trapped in the leaves of plants 2 things can happen
1: Animals eat the plant, and use the sugar for energy.
2: Plants die and are buried destined to become coal (Fossil Fuels)

6. Carbon Cycle: Back to the Atmosphere
Once carbon (sugar) is eaten, its energy is removed, and carbon dioxide is exhaled back to the atmosphere.
Another way carbon dioxide returns to the atmosphere is through the burning of fossil fuels.

7. Other parts of the carbon cycle
Plants also release some carbon dioxide during their own respiration
The ocean also takes up some carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

8. The Nitrogen Cycle Animations