1. Carbon Cycling Conservation of Mass Conservation of Mass Energy Flow and Transformation Energy Flow and Transformation Human Interactions Human Interactions Earth System Science Earth System Science

2. Carbon Fourth most abundant element in the universe Fourth most abundant element in the universe Basis for life Basis for life 4 bonds 4 bonds Forms complex molecules Forms complex molecules Gaseous form Gaseous form Buckminster Fullerene

3. Photosynthesis Where does the mass of a tree come from? Where does the mass of a tree come from? CO 2 + H 2 O  CH 2 O + O 2 CO 2 + H 2 O  CH 2 O + O 2

4. Global Carbon Cycle Greenhouse Gas. (n.d.). Retrieved June 14, 2010, from http://www.global- greenhouse-warming.com/global-carbon-cycle.html

5. Global Productivity Image courtesy of NASA

6. Productivity Figure by UMB OpenCourseWare

7. Primary Producers

8. Respiration Mitochondria, bacteria, fires, combustion engines Mitochondria, bacteria, fires, combustion engines O 2 + CH 2 O  CO 2 + H 2 O O 2 + CH 2 O  CO 2 + H 2 O Fossil Fuels burned at 20,000 times natural rates of oxidation Fossil Fuels burned at 20,000 times natural rates of oxidation

9. Global Carbon Cycle Greenhouse Gas. (n.d.). Retrieved June 14, 2010, from http://www.global- greenhouse-warming.com/global-carbon-cycle.html

10. Atmospheric Measurements

12. “Missing Sink” of Atmospheric CO2 (in Gigatons Carbon—10gmC) “Missing Sink” of Atmospheric CO2 (in Gigatons Carbon—10 15 gmC) Fossil Fuel Burning=6.0+/- 0.5 Fossil Fuel Burning=6.0+/- 0.5 Deforestation=0.9+/-0.7 Deforestation=0.9+/-0.7 Atmospheric Increase =3.2+/-0.1 Atmospheric Increase =3.2+/-0.1 Oceanic Uptake=2.0 +/-0.8 Oceanic Uptake=2.0 +/-0.8 “Missing Sink”=1.7 +/1.2 “Missing Sink”=1.7 +/1.2

13. Mass Balance Total mass is always conserved Total mass is always conserved Each element is also conserved in a closed system Each element is also conserved in a closed system Can you design a closed system that is sustainable indefinitely? Can you design a closed system that is sustainable indefinitely? Eco-sphere.com Eco-sphere.com

14. Cycles are linked CO 2 + H 2 O  CH 2 O + O 2 CO 2 + H 2 O  CH 2 O + O 2 Carbon goes up Carbon goes up Oxygen goes down Oxygen goes down

15. Biosphere 2 http://www.b2sci ence.org/ http://www.b2sci ence.org/ 7 people, O2 began to drop 7 people, O2 began to drop Why? Why?

16. News http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/09/2 3/artificial_noses_have_the_scent_of_promise/ http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/09/2 3/artificial_noses_have_the_scent_of_promise/ http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/09/2 3/artificial_noses_have_the_scent_of_promise/ http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/09/2 3/artificial_noses_have_the_scent_of_promise/ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203440 104574406681308037234.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203440 104574406681308037234.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203440 104574406681308037234.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203440 104574406681308037234.html http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090921/sc_nm/us_usa_ giantsquid http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090921/sc_nm/us_usa_ giantsquid http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090921/sc_nm/us_usa_ giantsquid http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090921/sc_nm/us_usa_ giantsquid http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8266500.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8266500.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8266500.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8267686.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8267686.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8267686.stm http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2009/09/2 3/at_un_summit_obama_promises_action_on_climate/ http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2009/09/2 3/at_un_summit_obama_promises_action_on_climate/