Carbon, Life, and Health

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/InternetGraph 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
1 / Go to the following website:

2 / This website, created by the Science Education for Public Understanding Program (SEPUP), will provide an integrated animation and simulation of the carbon cycle.
Click the button at the bottom of the page. /
3 / Click on the button, followed by the on the left-hand side of the page. Click the button.
4 / The image provides an interactive visual of the carbon cycle through the “Pre-Industrial Era.” The star symbols represent carbon reservoirs, while the flashing arrows indicate how carbon is moved between carbon reservoirs.
5 / Click on each carbon reservoir to learn more about it, and use the information provided to complete the questions in Table 1. Click on the information box to close it. /
6 / Click on each of the arrows to learn more about how carbon moves between reservoirs, and use the information provided to complete the questions in Table 2. Click on the information box to close it.
Task / Image
7 / 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.
8 / The image provides an interactive visual of the carbon cycle through the “Post-Industrial Era.” The star symbols represent carbon reservoirs, while the flashing arrows indicate how carbon is moved between carbon reservoirs.
9 / Click on each carbon reservoir to learn more about it, and use the information provided to complete the questions in Table 3. Click on the information box to close it. /
10 / Click on each of the arrows to learn more about how carbon moves between reservoirs, and use the information provided to complete the questions in Table 4. Click on the information box to close it.
11 / Create a line or bar graph comparing the Gigatons (Gt) of carbon stored in each reservoir between the Pre-Industrial and Post-Industrial Eras. Use the graph to answer the analysis questions below.
12 / Click on the button at the bottom of the page to move onto the simulation. You must go through all of the stars and arrows before the button will become active.

Table 1. Pre-Industrial Era Carbon Reservoirs
Carbon Reservoir / Average Amount of Carbon in Gigatons (Gt) / Description
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
Soil & Detritus
Plants
Fossil Fuels
Fires/Combustion
Ocean Biomass
Ocean Waters
Table 3. Post-Industrial Era Carbon Reservoirs
Carbon Reservoir / Average Amount of Carbon in Gigatons (Gt) / Description
Rocks
Soil & Detritus / N/A
Land Plants
Atmosphere
Fossil Fuels / N/A
Ocean Biomass / N/A
Ocean Waters / N/A
Table 4. Post-Industrial Era Carbon Cycling
Carbon Cycle / Average Amount of Carbon in Gigatons (Gt) / What is the Source and Sink? / Description
Soil & Detritus
Plants
Fossil Fuels
Fires/Combustion
Ocean Biomass
Ocean Waters

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