Carbon Fixation
-Autotrophs create carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and other carbon compounds
-The use of carbon dioxide in photosynthesis helps decrease the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
-Autotrophs create carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and other carbon compounds
-The use of carbon dioxide in photosynthesis helps decrease the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Carbon Dioxide in Solution
-In aquatic habitats carbon dioxide is present as a dissolved gas and hydrogen carbonate ions
-The hydrogen carbonate is a dissociate from carbonic acid, which reduces the pH of the ocean
-The plants and other autotrophs in the ocean absorb these forms of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and creation of carbon compounds
-In aquatic habitats carbon dioxide is present as a dissolved gas and hydrogen carbonate ions
-The hydrogen carbonate is a dissociate from carbonic acid, which reduces the pH of the ocean
-The plants and other autotrophs in the ocean absorb these forms of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and creation of carbon compounds
Absorption of Carbon Dioxide
-Carbon dioxide diffuses from the atmosphere or water into autotrophs
-This is created by a concentration gradient between the autotroph's cells and the air or water around
-Carbon dioxide diffuses from the atmosphere or water into autotrophs
-This is created by a concentration gradient between the autotroph's cells and the air or water around
Release of Carbon Dioxide Through Cell Respiration
-Carbon Dioxide is produced by aerobic respiration and diffuses out of organisms into water or the atmosphere
-Every living organism goes through cell respiration, including the non-photosynthetic root cells in plants, animal cells, and saprotrophs
-Carbon Dioxide is produced by aerobic respiration and diffuses out of organisms into water or the atmosphere
-Every living organism goes through cell respiration, including the non-photosynthetic root cells in plants, animal cells, and saprotrophs
Methanogenisis
-Methane is produced from organic matter in anaerobic conditions by methanogenic archaeans and some diffuses into the atmosphere -These bacteria include: 1. Bacteria that convert organic matter into organic acids, alcohol, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide 2. Bacteria that use alcohol and organic acids to produce carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and acetate 3. Archeans that produce methane from carbon dioxide, hydrogen and acetate. These methanogenic archaeans create methane anaerobic and waterlogged environments such as mud, swamps, and mangroves. The methane produces in these areas is diffused into the atmosphere |
Oxidation of Methane
-Methane is oxidized to carbon dioxide and water in the atmosphere
-There is a small concentration of methane in the atmosphere because it's oxidation
-Hense, methane only persist in the atmosphere for about 12 years
-Methane is oxidized to carbon dioxide and water in the atmosphere
-There is a small concentration of methane in the atmosphere because it's oxidation
-Hense, methane only persist in the atmosphere for about 12 years
Peat Formation
-Peat forms when organic matter is not fully decomposed because of anaerobic conditions in waterlogged soils
-Very few saprotrophs cannot thrive in anaerobic areas and therefor cannot decompose matter
-This partially decomposed matter accumulates to form peat, a dark brown acidic material
-Peat forms when organic matter is not fully decomposed because of anaerobic conditions in waterlogged soils
-Very few saprotrophs cannot thrive in anaerobic areas and therefor cannot decompose matter
-This partially decomposed matter accumulates to form peat, a dark brown acidic material
Fossilized Organic Matter
-Partially decomposed organic matter from past geological eras was converted into oil and gas in porous rocks or into coal
-Deposits of carbon compounds from millions of years back are buried in sediments
-Coal is formed when peat is compressed and heated
-Oil and natural gases are formed when incomplete decomposed matter is compressed and heated
-Partially decomposed organic matter from past geological eras was converted into oil and gas in porous rocks or into coal
-Deposits of carbon compounds from millions of years back are buried in sediments
-Coal is formed when peat is compressed and heated
-Oil and natural gases are formed when incomplete decomposed matter is compressed and heated
Combustion
-Carbon dioxide is produced by the combustion of biomass and fossilised organic matter -Combustion happens when matter is burned in the presence of oxygen -Carbon dioxide and water are the products of combustion -Coal, oil, and natural gas are all burned as fuel. Their carbon atoms are released into the atmosphere when burned |
Limestone
-Animals such as reef-building corals and molluscs have hard parts that are composed of calcium carbonate and can be fossilized in limestone
-When these animals die, their soft parts are decomposed quickly, but their hard parts form deposits of calcium carbonate in the sea bed
-These deposits form limestone rock
-About 12% of calcium carbonate is carbon, meaning that there are huge deposits of carbon locked up in Earth's sediments
-Animals such as reef-building corals and molluscs have hard parts that are composed of calcium carbonate and can be fossilized in limestone
-When these animals die, their soft parts are decomposed quickly, but their hard parts form deposits of calcium carbonate in the sea bed
-These deposits form limestone rock
-About 12% of calcium carbonate is carbon, meaning that there are huge deposits of carbon locked up in Earth's sediments
Carbon Fluxes
-Estimation of carbon fluxes due to processes in the carbon cycle
-These are the amount of carbon passed on to pools through the different methods in gigatonnes
-Estimation of carbon fluxes due to processes in the carbon cycle
-These are the amount of carbon passed on to pools through the different methods in gigatonnes
Trends in atmospheric carbon dioxide
-Analysis of data from atmosphere monitoring stations showing annual fluctuations
-Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii has monitored the carbon dioxide and methane levels in the atmosphere since 1959
-Analysis of data from atmosphere monitoring stations showing annual fluctuations
-Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii has monitored the carbon dioxide and methane levels in the atmosphere since 1959