The Carbon Cycle

Table of Contents

The Carbon Cycle

Key Points

Increasing Carbon Dioxide

Annual Wiggles in CO2

CO2 and Vegetation

CO2 with latitude and year

Key Points

Background Facts

The Pre-Industrial Carbon Cycle

Atmosphere - Vegetation Exchangeannual cycle

The Pre-Industrial Carbon Cycle

Atmosphere - Surface Ocean Exchangeannual cycle

The Pre-Industrial Carbon Cycle

Deep Ocean Time Scales1000 y

The Conveyor Belt

The Pre-Industrial Carbon Cycle

Geologic Time Scales100’s of millions of years

The Pre-Industrial Carbon Cycle

Geologic Sources of CO2

CO2 and Human Activities

Key Points

The Present Carbon Cycle

Atmosphere-Vegetation-Surface Ocean10’s of years

ForcingGt C /y

Key Points

Ecosystem Communities

Vegetation Responds to Enhanced CO2

Ice Age Variations

Key Points

Sources of Information

Email: fbretherton@ssec.wisc.edu

Home Page: http://www.aos.wisc.edu/classpages/aos121br