What Is Carbon?
An
The
Found
Carbon C$ le
The
same arbon atoms are used re#eatedl$ on earth% The$ $ le bet&een the earth and the atmos#here%
#ull arbon dio*ide from the atmos#here and use it to ma!e food +, #hotos$nthesis% The arbon be omes #art of the #lant -stored food.%
or/anisms eat #lants" the$ ta!e in the arbon and some of it be omes #art of their o&n bodies%
#lants and animals die" most of their bodies are de om#osed and arbon atoms are returned to the atmos#here% are not de om#osed full$ and end u# in de#osits under/round -oil" oal" et %.%
0ome
Carbon
in ro !s and under/round de#osits is released 1er$ slo&l$ into the atmos#here% #ro ess ta!es man$ $ears%
This
Decomposers break down dead things, releasing carbon to atmosphere and soil Fossil fuels are burned; carbon is returned to atmosphere
Plants use carbon to make food Plants and animals die Animals eat plants and take in carbon
Bodies not decomposed after many years, become part of oil or coal deposits
Carbon in O eans
Additional 3an$
animals #ull arbon from &ater to use in shells" et % die and arbon substan es are de#osited at the bottom of the o ean% eans ontain earth4s lar/est store of arbon%
Animals
The Carbon C$ le
Human Im#a t
Fossil
slo&l$ Burnin/ an$thin/ releases more arbon into atmos#here , es#e iall$ fossil fuels In reased arbon dio*ide in atmos#here in reases /lobal &armin/ Fe&er #lants mean less CO5 remo1ed from atmos#here
What We Need to )o
Burn
less" es#e iall$ fossil fuels #lant life" es#e iall$ trees
'romote