Interactive simulations for science teaching
400 downloadable interactive simulations
Carbon cycle
This simulation is in light version. Subscribe now!
- Summary
- This animation of the carbon cycle shows the exchanges of carbon dioxide between the planet’s 4 natural reservoirs ( atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere). Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. The natural carbon cycle is balanced.
Human activities (industrialization, deforestation, combustion of fossil fuels) alter these exchanges and are at the origin of an excess of waste CO2 in our atmosphere. Only 50% of these wastes are absorbed by natural carbon wells (biomass and ocean).
- Learning objectives
- To illustrate the imbalance created by human activities.
- To specify the orders of magnitude involved.
- How to use the animation
- Click in a reservoir to enlarge it and find details of exchanges there.
Rollover the arrows to display the labels.
- Student sheet
- You have to subscribe to view the student sheet
- Keywords
- pollution, photosynthesis, sediments, fossil-fuels, greenhouse-effect, carbon-dioxide
- Share your ideas with us!
- Share your ideas with us!