1. (Sec 4.2 pg 86-91) VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D7hZpIYlCA
Carbon Cycle
(Sec 4.2 pg 86-91)
VIDEO:

2. Carbon (C) is the key element in all living organisms (our Earth is full of carbon-based life forms).
Carbohydrates, lipids (fats) and protein are all organic compounds.

3. The carbon cycle involves a lot of oxygen too; here are some important features of the cycle:
Carbon reservoirs = anything that has the ability to store C for a long time. (forests, oceans, fossil fuels, etc)

4. The carbon cycle involves a lot of oxygen too; here are some important features of the cycle:
Carbon sink = something that actively absorbs more C than it releases. (growing forest, oceans, etc.)

5. The carbon cycle involves a lot of oxygen too; here are some important features of the cycle:
Carbon source = something that releases stored C. (a burning forest, decaying matter, burning fossil fuels, etc.)

6. The carbon cycle involves a lot of oxygen too; here are some important features of the cycle:
Carbon cycle = cycling of carbon through the environment (Fig. 2 p.87, and in your Data Pages)
Photosynthesis and respiration are responsible for most C recycling.

7. Oceans are very significant carbon reservoirs/sinks
Oceans are very significant carbon reservoirs/sinks. They store C two ways:
CO2 from atmosphere is dissolved in the water and used by aquatic producers in photosynthesis

8. Oceans are very significant carbon reservoirs/sinks
Oceans are very significant carbon reservoirs/sinks. They store C two ways:
Dissolved CO2 reacts with water to form calcium carbonate (CaCO3), which is used to make shells and other structures by marine organisms (e.g. sponges, crabs)

9. Fossil fuels represent a significant portion of global C reservoirs.
They represent the decayed C from organisms that have died and were buried before they were fully decomposed.
Fossil fuels include coal, oil, and gas

10. Burning fossil fuels releases CO2, which is a greenhouse gas (GHG).
GHG’s collect in the atmosphere and trap heat from the Sun inside the atmosphere, leading to the greenhouse effect (Fig.3 p.88).

11. Is the Greenhouse Effect Bad
The Greenhouse Effect helps to moderate temperatures -- especially nighttime temperatures. Without the greenhouse effect, the average temperature of the Earth would be -18 degrees C.

12. The greenhouse effect is responsible for life as we know it on Earth, but many believe increasing GHG levels is causing climate change.

13. Respiration that occurs with oxygen present is called aerobic respiration.
This is the most common type of respiration, and is another term for cellular respiration.

14. Respiration that happens without oxygen is called anaerobic respiration or fermentation.
It is carried out by some bacteria. These organisms release methane, ethyl alcohol, or acetic acid instead of CO2.