Water and Carbon cycle

Lesson Objectives

• Describe the continuous transfer of water in the water cycle

• Identify the main processes of the water cycle

• Explain how human activities can alter the cycle

Why doesn’t adding water always “fix” problems in the water cycle?

The water cycle is the continuous movement of water between the atmosphere, oceans, land, and living organisms.

💡 Water is recycled, not created or destroyed.

What Is the Water Cycle?

​The water cycle includes:

• Evaporation – liquid water → water vapor

• Condensation – water vapor → liquid droplets

• Precipitation – rain, snow, sleet, hail

• Runoff – water flowing over land

• Transpiration – water released from plants

Main Processes of the Water Cycle

Water Reservoirs (Storage Areas)

Common reservoirs include:

• Clouds (atmosphere)

• Oceans

• Rivers & lakes

• Soil (groundwater)

💡 Water can stay in reservoirs for different lengths of time.

• Water is always moving

• It does not stop after precipitation

• Processes can happen at the same time

​The Water Cycle Is Continuous!!!

The Carbon Cycle

​Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Describe how carbon is recycled through the carbon cycle

• Identify steps and carbon sinks

• Explain how human activities affect carbon levels in the atmosphere

The carbon cycle is a natural process in which carbon is recycled from the atmosphere into organisms and then returned back to the atmosphere.

What Is the Carbon Cycle?

Carbon enters the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO₂) through:

• Respiration

• Combustion

💡 Carbon dioxide is a normal part of Earth’s atmosphere.

Carbon Enters the Atmosphere

​Producers absorb CO₂ from the air

• Carbon is used to make carbohydrates

• Animals eat plants

• Carbon compounds move through the food chain

• CO₂ is exhaled during respiration

• Plants and animals die

• Decomposers break them down in the soil

​Carbon Enters Living Things

​Carbon sequestration occurs when:

• Plants remove CO₂ from the air

• Carbon is stored in farmlands, grasslands, or forests

• This decreases atmospheric carbon

​Carbon Sequestration

Carbon sinks are places where carbon is stored.

Major carbon sinks include:

• Oceans

• Atmosphere

• Soil

• Forests

💡 Some sinks store carbon longer than others.

​Carbon Sinks

​Human activities have increased carbon in the atmosphere:

• Burning fossil fuels

• Deforestation

• Automobile emissions

• Agricultural and forestry practices

• Removal of carbon sinks

Human Impact on the Carbon Cycle

Group Discussion

• How do human activities increase carbon in the atmosphere?

• Why are carbon sinks important to the carbon cycle?

• How does carbon sequestration help reduce atmospheric carbon?