GEOL 1111_CCycle
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Jan 9, 2024
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GEOL 1111 – Environmental Geology Lab:
Carbon Cycle
Carbon on the Move! Adapted from
https://serc.carleton.edu/eslabs/carbon/2b.html
The Global Carbon Cycle
In this lab, you will use a global Carbon Cycle interactive to investigate carbon's many
pathways through the larger, more complex global carbon cycle. Understanding how
carbon moves between land, oceans and atmosphere is key to understanding how our
climate will continue to change. Before you begin using the interactive, watch the NASA
video below "Keeping Up with Carbon." As you watch, make note of the role of the
Biosphere in the global carbon cycle.
NASA | Earth Science Week: Keeping Up With Carbon - YouTube
or on
Vimeo
Follow carbon through the global
Carbon Cycle
Before you begin the global carbon cycle activity below, become familiar with the "The
Carbon Cycle" using the image below. You will be using important information in the
pop-up windows to identify and describe two different carbon pathways through the
global carbon cycle. Here are some hints:
The key in the upper right-hand corner distinguishes between carbon
reservoirs and the carbon cycle processes. Orange buttons are carbon cycle
processes; purple buttons are carbon cycle reservoirs.
The arrows represent processes that are moving carbon atoms from one
reservoir to another reservoir.
As you investigate reservoir pop-up windows, think about whether a
reservoir is in the Biosphere or the Geosphere. Also, think about whether a
process is a Biosphere process or a Geosphere process.
The video will play once you click on it. You will see the popups come up as
the video plays. Hit the pause button to read through the information.
The Carbon Cycle
TERC, informmotion
Note - This video replaces a Flash interactive. Play, pause, and replay the video as
necessary to view the reservoir pop-ups you need.
EarthLabs
I have not tried this, but feel free to give it a go! To view this interactive on an iPad, use
this link to download/open the free TERC
EarthLabs App
.
Now that you are familiar with using the carbon cycle interactive, you are ready to start
the global carbon cycle activity.
Global carbon pathways
In this activity, you will identify and describe
two different carbon pathways
that
carbon can take through the global carbon cycle. Here are four general rules you must
follow:
You must start in a reservoir of your choice and identify
a
complete carbon pathway
that takes you back to the
same reservoir.
At least one of your two carbon pathways must go through
part of the
ocean
.
One of the two carbon pathways must illustrate a
fast carbon
cycle
. (Note: Fast carbon cycle pathways are completed in
short timescales of minutes up to several hundred years.)
The other carbon pathway must illustrate a
slow carbon
cycle.
Slow carbon cycle pathways are completed in long time
scales of thousands of years to millions of years
The geosphere and the biosphere are the two components of the Earth System; the geosphere is the collective name for the
lithosphere, the hydrosphere, the cryosphere, and the atmosphere. All parts of the Earth System interact and are interrelated
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through climatic processes and through the water cycle and biogeochemical cycles. The Sun is the dominant source of all external
energy to the Earth System. Diagram designed by James A. Tomberlin, USGS.
On your own or with a classmate, however you choose to do this, follow the steps below
for
each
of your two carbon pathways. Be prepared to describe your pathways for
submission as described in #5:
1.
Choose a carbon reservoir to start your carbon pathway.
2.
Determine a pathway your carbon atoms will take, starting from your entry
point reservoir. There are multiple carbon cycle pathways for you to choose
from.
Hint:
In addition to the arrows on the interactive diagram, there are
clues in the pop-up tabs that may tell you where the carbon can go to next.
3.
Create a
flow chart
for each carbon pathway. Your charts should include
the following information:
o
Names of the reservoirs the carbon moves through;
o
Arrows indicating the processes that move carbon between
reservoirs. Label each process;
o
Label each reservoir as belonging to the Biosphere or
Geosphere;
o
Gigatons (GT) of carbon stored in the reservoirs if available;
o
Forms of carbon compounds found in each reservoir and
indicate whether each is a solid
(s)
, liquid
(l)
or gas
(g)
. (examples:
carbohydrate
(s)
, calcium carbonate
(s)
, CO
2
(g)
)
4.
As you draw your arrows between the reservoirs, think about how long it
takes for these carbon atoms to move from one reservoir to another. For
example, a carbon atom can stay in sedimentary rocks for millions of years
before moving to a different carbon reservoir. This would be an example of
a "very long and slow time scale." If the information is available, indicate a
time scale for movement of carbon from one reservoir to the next reservoir.
5.
Using your flow charts for your two carbon pathways, address the following
points:
o
Describe your two carbon pathways through the reservoirs and
processes. What processes move the carbon out of one reservoir
into another?
o
Does the carbon change from one type of carbon compound to
another when it moves between reservoirs? For example, it may
start off as a gas and change to a solid, or carbon may be
present in one reservoir as carbon dioxide but in another
reservoir may be a complex organic carbon compound such as
carbohydrate sugar.
o
What living organisms are involved (if any) and what is their role
in moving and storing the carbon in the two pathways you have
chosen? Describe any small organism(s) that has a big role in in
moving and storing carbon. What organism(s) strongly influence
the amount of CO
2
in the atmosphere? Describe any small
organism(s) that has a big influence
o
How long does the carbon stay in each reservoir? What are the
time scales for carbon moving from one reservoir to another?
o
Explain why your carbon pathway belongs to a slow carbon
cycle or a fast carbon cycle.
Thought questions
In the global carbon cycle, does carbon move at faster time scales through
the Biosphere or through the Geosphere? Why do you think this occurs?
Which carbon pathway(s) has the greatest potential to warm our climate
further? Why?
Many countries are cutting down forests to make way for agriculture and
roads. How might this practice disrupt the carbon cycle? What reservoirs
and processes might be impacted? Why?
The world's population has passed the 7 billion mark. As the population
continues to increase, the need for energy will also increase. How might the
increased need for energy impact the global carbon cycle? Why?
Optional Extensions
Want to learn more about the global carbon cycle. Check out these resources below:
Read about
A Breathing Planet, Off Balance
Explore the
Global Carbon Atlas
Explore
Climate at NASA.gov
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