Lab #10

Ieas Almoily

GO315

Lab 8

Primary carbon cycle process that occurs through photosynthesis, whereby the plants in the presence of the sunlight are able to combine carbon dioxide with other compounds such as hydrogen gas or water to carbohydrates which make up the plant tissues. In the process oxygen is released alone as the waste product of the process. The carbon stored in plant tissues or even animals can then be released back into the atmosphere through respiration which is basically through the aerobic or anaerobic processes. This means that the carbohydrate is Brocken down in the presence of enough oxygen to release carbon dioxide and water as the only end products.

Another primary carbon cycle process is through decomposition; it can also be termed as the decay of the animal or plant materials. This occurs after the organic matter of either the plant or animal matter is broken down by bacteria or fungi to simple elements of carbon as they feed on the decaying matter. The process in which the carbon cycle undergoes can also be in the form of ingestion which means the activity where mainly animals feed on other organisms to obtain nutrients in the form of carbohydrates. The carbon part of the carbohydrates becomes part of the animal body structure through assimilation. Carbon is also released back into the atmosphere through combustion, this is the process where the carbon containing organic materials are burnt or oxidized to release only water and carbon dioxide as the end products. For instance, burning of fossil fuels.

In the earths biosphere carbon only exists as carbon complex compounds in form of organic matter that makes up organisms such as carbohydrates proteins and fats or cellulose in plants. In the geosphere the carbon mainly exists in gaseous form which is mainly in the form of carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide.

There are four carbon reservoirs which are linked through sort of links of exchange among them. The reservoirs are the atmosphere, the terrestrial biosphere, the ocean and the sediments. Carbon exists in the atmosphere in form of carbon dioxide gas, it is then linked to the terrestrial environment by being dissolved in soil components.it is then found in the ocean through absorption since it is soluble in water. The sediments are the fossil fuels at the bottom of the ocean which are mainly composed of carbon elements.

Examples of the timescale at which carbon moves through the earth’s geosphere and biosphere. The carbon stored in the soil can remain there for thousands of years before being dissolved in water and washed down rivers or through erosion. For instance, from the year 1989 to 2008 soil respiration rose by about 0.1% a year.

The negative effects of the feedback of the carbon cycle result from the disturbance of the carbon cycle by mainly human through industrial processes which in one way or another causes an alteration in one of the carbon reservoirs. Such as excessive mining of coal and oil leading to an interruption of the time scale required to maintain the cycle. On the other hand, the carbon cycle has a positive feedback since it is self-sustaining it maintains a stable concentration.