The Carbon Cycle Systems of Planet Earth
- 1. CARBON CYCLE JUNE SPENCER CERA College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Isabela State University, Cabagan, Isabela 2024
- 2. What is Carbon? • Carbon is an element with an atomic number of 6 and relative atomic mass of 12.011 • All organic materials has carbon. • Present in proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, carbohydrates, and other compounds important to life. • Present to all living organisms (plants, animals, microorganisms) • Vital element in carbon cycle. • Present in the atmosphere largely in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2). • Also present in water bodies as dissolve carbon and earth’s rocks as carbonate.
- 3. What is Carbon Cycle? • Carbon cycle is the movement (flux) or carbon from one pool to another. • Movement = Flux • Pool = Carbon Reservoir (plants, animals, water bodies, atmosphere, soil)
- 4. Photo by Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. (2012)
- 5. What are the two types of Carbon Cycle? GEOLOGICAL CARBON CYCLE BIOLOGICAL CARBON CYCLE Driven by movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates and processes of chemical weathering. Process 1. Release of CO2 from volcanic activities; 2. The CO2 combines with precipitation (rain) to form carbonic acid (HCO3-); 3. Carbonic acid reacts with rocks containing carbon deposits; 4. Carbon carried by bodies of water; 5. Dissolve carbon used by marine animals to form shells or corals; 6. The shells, corals, and diffused carbon deposited to sediments; 7. Carbonate rocks then subducted in continental plates. Contribution of carbon by all living organisms. 1. Human activities 2. Respiration 3. Decomposition Process 4. Release of carbon by living organisms; 5. Assimilation of photosynthetic organisms (plants, algae, cyanobacteria).
- 6. Geological Carbon Cycle General Process 1. Accumulation of CO2 and water in the atmosphere; 2. Weathering of rocks that produces dissolve carbonates. Carbonic acid (HCO3-) dissolve rocks that contain calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and silicate (Si). 2CO2 + 2H2O + CaSiO3 → Ca2+ + 2HCO3 − + H4SiO4 The carbonates of Ca and Mg transported in a surface runoff and subsurface flow to the bodies of water (ocean), where the below occurs: Ca2+ + 2HCO3 − → CaCO3 + CO2 + H2O
- 7. The Geological Carbon Cycle is a long-term carbon cycle. Photo by Horwath (2015)
- 8. Biological Carbon Cycle 1. Photosynthesis – carbon (CO2) is assimilated by plants. CO2 + H2O → C6H12O6 + O2 + H2O 2. Respiration (phototrophs) – carbon (CO2) is returned to the atmosphere. 6O2 + C6H12O6 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy 3. Decomposition/respiration (microorganisms) Process 1. Mononumeric Units (sugars, phenols, amino acids) are formed from complex polymers (Cellulose, Lignin, Protein) by extracellular enzymes (dehydrogenase, cellulases, β-glucosidase, chitinase, phosphatase); 2. Mononumeric Units assimilated by microbial cells and yields: Aerobic CO2 + more energy + more biomass Anaerobic CO2 + CH4 + alcohols + organic acids + less energy + less biomass 4. Human Activities – emissions by burning fossil fuels and other materials with carbon.
- 9. Biological Carbon Cycle is a short- term carbon cycle Photo taken from https://ecologyconnections.weebly.com/carbon- cycle.html
- 10. References Horwath, W. (2015). Carbon cycling: the dynamics and formation of organic matter. Soil microbiology, ecology and biochemistry, 4, 339-82. Janzen, H. H. (2004). Carbon cycling in earth systems—a soil science perspective. Agriculture, ecosystems & environment, 104(3), 399-417.