Name(s): Zachary Esposito

Period:

Date:10/30/2018

HASPI Medical Biology Lab 13 Background Information Models (e.g., physical, mathematical, computer models) can be used to simulate systems and interactions—including energy, matter, and information flows—within and between systems at different scales. A large variety of these models are available online for education, simulations, and real-time data. In this activity, you will use Internet-based models to learn more about the carbon cycle and its impact on our lives.

Materials Computer/Internet

Graph paper/Graphing software

Directions You will be given tasks, or directions, to perform on the left. Record your questions, observations, or required response to each task on the right.

Part A. Learning About the Carbon Cycle Task Response Go to the following website: 1

http://sepuplhs.org/high/sgi/teachers/carbon_sim.html

This website, created by the Science Education for Public Understanding Program (SEPUP), will provide an integrated animation 2 and simulation of the carbon cycle. Click the of the page.

button at the bottom

Click on the

button, followed

on the left-hand side of the 3 by the page. Click the button. The image provides an interactive visual of the carbon cycle through the “Pre-Industrial 4 Era.” The star symbols represent carbon reservoirs, while the flashing arrows indicate how carbon is moved between carbon reservoirs. Click on each carbon reservoir to learn more about it, and use the information 5 provided to complete the questions in Table 1. Click on the information box to close it. Click on each of the arrows to learn more about how carbon moves between reservoirs, and use the 6 information provided to complete the questions in Table 2. Click on the information box to close it.

Task

Image

Click the button at the bottom of the page. This button will not become available until all of the stars and arrows on the “Pre-Industrial Era” image have been opened. The image provides an interactive visual of the carbon cycle through the “Post-Industrial 8 Era.” The star symbols represent carbon reservoirs, while the flashing arrows indicate how carbon is moved between carbon reservoirs. Click on each carbon reservoir to learn more about it, and use the information 9 provided to complete the questions in Table 3. Click on the information box to close it. Click on each of the arrows to learn more about how carbon moves between reservoirs, and use the 10 information provided to complete the questions in Table 4. Click on the information box to close it. 7

Create a line or bar graph comparing the Gigatons (Gt) of carbon stored in each 11 reservoir between the Pre-Industrial and Post-Industrial Eras. Use the graph to answer the analysis questions below. button at the bottom of the page to move on to the 12 Click on the simulation. You must go through all of the stars and arrows before the button will become active.

Part A Analysis Questions – answer questions on a separate sheet of paper 1. How has the carbon cycle changed between the Pre-Industrial and Post-Industrial eras? There is an increase of carbon dioxide in the air. 2. In which reservoir was the most carbon stored in the Pre-Industrial era? Rocks 3. In which reservoir was the least carbon stored in the Pre-Industrial era? Fossil Fuels 4. In which reservoir is the most carbon stored in the Post-Industrial era? Rocks 5. In which reservoir is the least carbon stored in the Post-Industrial era? Land Plants 6. What is the difference between the source and sink in this activity? Sink absorbs more carbon then it gives off, source emits more than it absorbs. 7. Between which source and sink was the most carbon exchanged in the Pre-Industrial era? Soil and Detritus 8. Between which source and sink is the most carbon exchanged in the Post-Industrial era? Fossil Fuels

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Carbon, Life, and Health, HASPI Medical Biology Lab 13

Table 1. Pre-Industrial Era Carbon Reservoirs Carbon Reservoir

Average Amount of Carbon in Gigatons (Gt)

Description

70 million Gt

The carbon cycles through carbonate & silicate rocks, through such processes as weathering and disposition

1550 Gt

When organisms die, scavengers and bacteria break down their tissues, which mix with minerals and rock. Eventually creating soil

610 Gt

Organisms cycle carbon through cellular respiration taking in oxygen and glucose and releasing carbon dioxide and water

560 Gt

Amount of carbon in the air changes based on the combination of carbon fluxes to the air from all the reservoirs

N/A

Burned everyday by humans since 2000 bc

48 GT

Phytoplankton convert approx. 0.1 Gt of atmospheric carbon into glucose and other organic compounds everyday

38,000 Gt (6,000 in settlement)

Surface layer contains about 1,000 Gt of carbon, which meets the air through carbon dioxide gas dissolving in and out of the water.

Rocks

Soil & Detritus

Land Plants

Atmosphere

Fossil Fuels Ocean Biomass

Ocean Waters

Table 2. Pre-Industrial Era Carbon Cycling Carbon Cycle

Average Amount of Carbon in Gigatons (Gt)

What is the Source and Sink?

Description

60 Gt

Decaying organic matter & soil

One of the main sources of change in the amounts of atmospheric carbon

120 Gt

Photosynthesis & Cellular respiration Coal, crude oil, & natural gas

Soil & Detritus

Plants Fossil Fuels

4,000-10,000 Gt N/A

Burning carboncontaining materials

48 Gt

Atmospheric carbon

90 Gt

Ocean water & the atmosphere

Fires/Combustion

Some ecosystems depend on wildfires & their efforts to maintain biodiversity & promote growth of plants & trees

Ocean Biomass Ocean Waters

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Table 3. Post-Industrial Era Carbon Reservoirs Carbon Reservoir Rocks

Soil & Detritus

Average Amount of Carbon in Gigatons (Gt)

Description

About the same

Carbon flux in rocks occurs on a long timescale that’s not considered a part of the annual flux in the carbon cycle

N/A 560 Gt

Decline because of forests being burned/cut down and have been replaced by grassland/farms

750 Gt

Increase is due to fossil fuel combustion, deforestation & alteration of land use

Land Plants

Atmosphere

Fossil Fuels

Ocean Biomass

Ocean Waters

Human activity in land use patterns & agricultural practices can change how much soil is oxidized by the air

N/A

N/A

N/A

The widespread use of internal combustion engines & electricity greatly increased the consumption of fossil fuels Decline as high of 40% due to ocean temp rise caused by global temperature rise Carbon dioxide in air dissolves in water, changes into carbon acid, which increases the acidity of the ocean

Table 4. Post-Industrial Era Carbon Cycling Carbon Cycle

Average Amount of Carbon in Gigatons (Gt)

What is the Source and Sink?

2 Gt

deforestation

Soil & Detritus

150 Gt Plants

Fossil Fuels

Fires/Combustion

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Description Industrial Farming practices lead to erosion and degradation of soil. Also increases carbon released in the air

Land use changes have increased more carbon into the air

Invention of plastics & the use of internal combustion engines greatly increased the consumption of fossil fuels

Loss of forests means loss of carbon storage and cycling

Carbon, Life, and Health, HASPI Medical Biology Lab 13

48 Gt Ocean Biomass 90 Gt Ocean Waters

Ocean water & atmosphere

More carbon going into the ocean than coming out

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