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The carbon cycle and us

What is the carbon cycle?

Carbon is the chemical basis of all known life. It exists in forms as rare as diamond and more commonly as coal, and bonded with other atoms, in liquid and vapour forms. Humans are partly made up of carbon; after oxygen, carbon is the second most abundant element by mass in our bodies.

The carbon cycle is the story both global and molecular, of how carbon atoms are transferred in various forms, through the atmosphere, oceans, plants, animals, soils and sediments.

An artist's representation of the carbon dioxide molecule with a black central (carbon) sphere adjoined each side by a red (oxygen) sphere

CO2 molecule by Ingvald Straume1 CC BY-SA 3.02

Read an introduction to the carbon cycle3 by the ABC’s Bernie Hobbs, with an illustration of both ‘quick’ and ‘slow’ carbon cycles. NASA’s earth observatory4 also has an illustrated primer.

Teaching the carbon cycle

Find teacher-reviewed videos on the carbon cycle at NeoK125. The Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness network has digital resources for teachers6 on the carbon cycle (choose by grade).

Animating the cycle

Use an animation7 to illustrate steps of the carbon cycle in a simplified form, a short video8, or a more detailed illustration9 from the site C02 CRC. Use another simple animation of each of the contributing parts of the cycle10 (requires Flash).

NASA diagram of the carbon cycle. No copyright. Click for a larger view.

NASA11 diagram of the carbon cycle

View a larger version with an explanation.

Resources for Secondary

Teach engineering has a lesson on carbon cycles12, and Cycles of the Earth and Atmosphere13 has an excercise to explore the carbon cycle and be able to indentify carbon sources, sinks and release agents. The US National Science Foundation has a comprehensive video series on The Carbon Cycle14.

Carbon and climate change

The Carbon Cycle Cartoon15 has a very clear explanation of the carbon cycle and humans' contribution to it.

Visit the US Environmntal Protection Agency to Explore Climate Change Indicators16 and find units of work for Primary at the CSIRO's Education programs17 website. Find Secondary resources on the global carbon cycle on the C02 CRC Factsheets18 and Image gallery9 webpages.

Artist impression of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory in orbit above earth

NASA/JPL19 image. Artist concept of the planned Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2.

In 2014 NASA plans to launch the Orbiting Carbon Observatory20, to study atmospheric carbon.

Investigate the pros and cons of introducing a price on carbon21. David Suziki discusses the difference between a carbon tax and a cap-and-trade system22. Find related resources with Sites2See: Exploring energy for Secondary23 and What is climate change?24

Syllabus icon linked to syllabus links information

Links

  1. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CO2-molekyl.png
  2. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en
  3. http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/02/29/3442312.htm?topic=enviro&WT.svl=healthscience5
  4. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/CarbonCycle
  5. https://www.neok12.com/Carbon-Cycle.htm
  6. https://cleanet.org/clean/educational_resources/collection/index.html
  7. http://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/soilhealth_organic_carbon-cycle
  8. https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2364/a-breathing-planet-off-balance/
  9. http://www.co2crc.com.au/gallery/general-ccs/
  10. http://www.kscience.co.uk/animations/carbon_cycle.htm
  11. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carbon_cycle-cute_diagram.jpeg
  12. http://www.oercommons.org/courses/carbon-cycles/view
  13. http://eo.ucar.edu/learn/
  14. https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/degree/carbon/carbon.jsp
  15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czMkO28lU20
  16. https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators
  17. https://www.csiro.au/en/Education/Programs
  18. http://www.co2crc.com.au/publication-category/fact-sheets/
  19. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/oco/multimedia/2.html
  20. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/oco2/index.html
  21. https://www.economicshelp.org/blog/2207/economics/carbon-tax-pros-and-cons/
  22. https://davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/carbon-tax-cap-trade/
  23. https://app.education.nsw.gov.au/rap/resource/access/1109a339-23cc-4b08-8d80-80fb744b4768/1
  24. https://app.education.nsw.gov.au/rap/resource/access/aa8ae572-667d-4858-8605-5e26170c2279/1