Essential idea: Continued availability of carbon in ecosystems depends on carbon cycling.
Ecosystems need carbon to be cycled, without it they could not survive. To illustrate this point the coal shown above is formed entirely from partially decayed and fossilised plant and animal remains. Fossil fuels are a valuable sink of carbon. As shown by this and the next topic the balance of the cycle, i.e. where in the cycle the carbon is found, is as critical to ecosystems as the fact that they need carbon to be cycled.
Understandings, applications and skills:
| 4.3.U1 | Autotrophs convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and other carbon compounds. |
| 4.3.U2 | In aquatic ecosystems carbon is present as dissolved carbon dioxide and hydrogen carbonate ions. |
| 4.3.U3 | Carbon dioxide diffuses from the atmosphere or water into autotrophs. |
| 4.3.U4 | Carbon dioxide is produced by respiration and diffuses out of organisms into water or the atmosphere. |
| 4.3.U5 | Methane is produced from organic matter in anaerobic conditions by methanogenic archaeans and some diffuses into the atmosphere or accumulates in the ground. |
| 4.3.U6 | Methane is oxidized to carbon dioxide and water in the atmosphere. |
| 4.3.U7 | Peat forms when organic matter is not fully decomposed because of acidic and/or anaerobic conditions in waterlogged soils. |
| 4.3.U8 | Partially decomposed organic matter from past geological eras was converted either into coal or into oil and gas that accumulate in porous rocks. |
| 4.3.U9 | Carbon dioxide is produced by the combustion of biomass and fossilized organic matter. |
| 4.3.U10 | Animals such as reef-building corals and mollusca have hard parts that are composed of calcium carbonate and can become fossilized in limestone. |
| 4.3.A1 | Estimation of carbon fluxes due to processes in the carbon cycle. [Carbon fluxes should be measured in gigatonnes.] |
| 4.3.A2 | Analysis of data from air monitoring stations to explain annual fluctuations. |
| 4.3.S1 | Construct a diagram of the carbon cycle. |
[Text in square brackets indicates guidance notes]
Starters
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A fun musical introduction to the Carbon Cycle by Mr W
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Use video to both learn and test your skills in drawing the carbon cycle
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Use the Cornell notes style template to collate your own notes for Topic 4.3 Carbon cycling.
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Weblinks
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Carbon Cycle
Carbon cycle by NASA - comes without sound, a good learning activity could be to ask students to create a narrated version of the video Global Carbon Cycle by Sunamas Inc. includes details on global warming Global Cabon Cycle by WH Freeman looks at carbon fluxes in GTC/y Carbon Cycle by KScience has a simplified carbon cycle showing fluxes of carbon |
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Nature of science
Making accurate, quantitative measurements - it is important to obtain reliable data on the concentration of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere. (3.1)
Test your understanding of the NoS statement by answering the question below:
Q - explain why it is important to monitor carbon dioxide concentrations at different locations and why standardised methods must be used at each location. (3 marks)
Test your understanding of the NoS statement by answering the question below:
Q - explain why it is important to monitor carbon dioxide concentrations at different locations and why standardised methods must be used at each location. (3 marks)
