8.30 Stages of the Carbon Cycle

1. Photosynthesis       Co2 + H2O --> C6H12O1 + O2
 reduces atmospheric CO2

2. Feeding                  Producer --> Primary Consumer --> Secondary Consumer

The primary consumer takes in the carbon from the producer and uses it to grow, the carbon passes along the food chain

3. Respiration             C6H12O6 --> Energy + CO2
 Adds CO2 to the atmosphere by animals

4. Decomposition
After death, the organic molecules that remain are broken down by the decomposer organisms (bacteria, funghi) results in release of CO2 back into the atmosphere

5. Combustion        

Fossil Fuels
Release CO2  (Industrial combustion/vehicles)
              
Lighting striking vegetation/forest or grassland fires release CO2

http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/images/carboncycle.jpg

4.14 Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

Pollution by increase of

• CO2
• Methane
• Water Vapor 

Increase concentration in Upper Atmosphere

Infrared Light will be increasingly re-emited backwards towards surface (rather than escape into space)

This raises average Global Temperature (Global Warming)

Consequences

• Melting of Ice Caps 
• Raised Water level
• Changes Ocean Currents
• Climate Change
• Changes in distribution of World's Biomes (e.g Desserts expand()

4.13 Greenhouse Gasses

Burning of Fossil Fuels 

• Factories
• Cars/Vehicles
• Domestic 

creates more

• Carbon Dioxide   - CO2
• Nitrous Dioxide   - NO2
• These absorb and distribute Infrared Light back to surface of the Earth

Farming

• Cows emit Methane (9% of Atmospheric Gasses)

Evaporation of Water

• Forms Water Vapor

Refrigeration / Solvents / CFC's

4.12 Greenhouse Effect

"Warming that results when Solar Radiation is trapped by the atmosphere;caused by atmospheric gasses that allow sunlight to pass through but absorb heat energy that is radiated back from the warmed surface of the earth"

• UV Light comes from the Sun
• 50% of UV Light is refracted
• UV Light is converted to Infrared and absorbed  
• Infrared gets emitted back out
• The more Greenhouse Gasses (Water Vapor, CO2) the more heat is trapped 

4.11 Gas Pollution

Sulphur Dioxide - SO2


Comes From

• from the combustion of Fossil Fuels in factories
• Also from vehicles (combustion of oils and gas)

Affects

• Combines with Water Vapor to form Sulphuric Acid       -       Acid Rain
• Acid Rain affects plants and animals (Trees/Plants are often burdened, Sulphuric Acid causes Calcium and Magnesium to be leached out of the soil hindering growth)
• Acidic Rain in water affects pH, causes Mucus to thicken around a Fish's gills, suffocating them

Carbon Monoxide

Comes from

• When fossil fuels (Coal/Gas) are burdened with insufficient oxygen

Effects

• Combines with Haemoglobin in Red Blood Cells to form Carbamino Haemoglobin
• Blocks the Haemoglobin from carrying oxygen - reducing oxygen circulation