Summary of "The Carbon Cycle | A-level Geography | OCR, AQA, Edexcel"

Main Ideas:

The Carbon Cycle describes the movement of carbon between various stores on Earth, including the atmosphere, oceans, land (lithosphere), and living organisms (biosphere).
Carbon is a versatile element found in organic forms (biomass) and inorganic forms (fossil fuels).
Major carbon compounds include Carbon Dioxide (a greenhouse gas), Methane, Calcium Carbonate (limestone), Hydrocarbons (oil, gas, coal), and carbon in biomolecules (like DNA).

Key Concepts:

Origins of Carbon:
- Carbon originates from the Earth's interior, particularly from the mantle.
- It is transferred to the crust and atmosphere through processes like volcanic eruptions.
Major Carbon Stores:
- Lithosphere: Contains carbon in fossil fuels, limestone, and decaying organic material.
- Hydrosphere: Oceans store Carbon Dioxide and carbon within marine organisms and plants.
- Biosphere: Includes carbon in living organisms, soil, and decaying matter (plant litter, humus, peat).
- Atmosphere: Contains Carbon Dioxide in gaseous form, crucial for regulating Earth's temperature.
Carbon Cycle Processes:
- Carbon is cycled through various processes, including Photosynthesis (removing carbon from the atmosphere) and decay (returning carbon to the soil).
- Human activities, particularly since the Industrial Revolution, have increased atmospheric Carbon Dioxide levels, contributing to global warming.
Greenhouse Effect:
- Carbon Dioxide is essential for maintaining Earth's temperature, but excessive levels can lead to harmful warming.
- The Mauna Loa Observatory has documented the rising levels of atmospheric CO2 over the past 50 years.

Methodology/Instructions:

Understand the four major stores of carbon: hydrosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere.
Recognize the importance of carbon in various forms and its role in life and the environment.
Be aware of the impact of human activities on the Carbon Cycle and global warming.