Human Impact on the carbon cycle November 06, 2012
Human Impact on the Carbon Cycle. ­ 1600's and today
Prior Knowledge ­ Common chemical forms of Carbon
List some common chemical compounds which contain carbon. Use the structure picture to get their chemical formula.
Structure
Chemical formula
Name
Important Chemical Processes involving Carbon
List the processes that involve carbon by filling in the blanks (see you carbon cycle note). Process
Converts carbon from: Converts carbon to: sugars
Respiration
sugars
Combustion
fossil fuels
plants using sunlight
animals (including humans)
happens in the soil when animals/plants die
sugars
Dissolving
Who does it or where does it happen?
carbonic acid
Human Impact on the carbon cycle November 06, 2012
How is today's world different from the one 400 years ago?
Watch the following videos then in small groups, brainstorm five changes to the lives of humans that have taken place on earth in the last 400 years.
Life before the industrial revolution (stop at 4:50): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4joqYycnqM&feature=related
Life after the industrial revolution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Efq­aNBkvc
1600's
World population = 0.7 billion Today
World population = 7 billion (10 times more)
Human Impact on the carbon cycle November 06, 2012
Use the pictures to draw the carbon cycle in 1600
CO2
Use the pictures to draw the carbon cycle in 2012
CO2
Which cycle is more sustainable and why?
Human Impact on the carbon cycle November 06, 2012
Making the Connection: How Human Activity has impacted the Carbon Cycle
1) Which processes of the carbon cycle are we most effecting?
Process Increasing or decreasing it? Human activity that is causing the change Consequences of excess CO2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0kacyyLVB4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJAbATJCugs
2) How do these impacts make ecosystems less sustainable? Consider what a sustainable ecosystem provides (see previous note).
Human Impact on the carbon cycle November 06, 2012
At Issue ­ how has the carbon cycle and human activity threaten the Earth as a sustainable ecosystem since 1600
Issue
Combustion and the oceans
Combustion and the atmosphere
Plastics
Deforestation
Fossil fuel extraction
Distribution of fuel and other goods How is carbon involved
What is the issue? How have Humans contributed to this issue?