Cycling Carbon Charles Keeling Monitoring the Atmosphere The Carbon Cycle The processes that shuttle carbon among rocks soils oceans air and organisms CO2 added to the atmosphere by Volcanoes mid ocean ridges Biological inputs ie respiration Human activities ie deforestation burning fossil fuels CO2 removed from the atmosphere by Geological removal ie chemical weathering of rocks Biological ie photosynthesis Short Term Carbon Cycle Seasonal Fluctuations of CO2 Atmospheric CO2 levels fluctuate regularly up and down with the seasons Seasonal photosynthesis Higher rates in the summer Rates of respiration remains constant throughout the year Correlation of CO2 Levels with the Industrial Revolution Correlation vs Causation Indicates that two events or processes occur together Increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere and the industrial Correlation revolution Causation A relationship in which one event leads to another What is the source of the additional CO2 Ratios of Carbon Isotopes Provide Information about the source of the additional CO2 13C levels are declining 14C levels are declining CO2 Sources The Long Term Carbon Cycle Carbon Reservoirs Skeletons and Shells of the Ocean Geologic Processes that Drive the Long term Carbon Cycle Oxidation of coal oil and ancient organic matter 0 05 Volcanism 0 083 Oceanic crust weathering 0 02 Silicate weathering 0 14 Oceanic crust weathering 0 22 Organic burial 0 07 Carbonate weathering 0 29 Subduction 0 083 Atmospheric CO2 Records 400 000 Years Ice Age Atmospheric CO2 Records 542 Million Years Carbon Cycle in the Food Web Trophic Pyramids Diversity of Photosynthetic Organisms Why The same function is performed but the habitat in which it is performed is very diverse Microbial Communities Earth s Oxygen Levels
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