Life on earth is based on carbon. Living things acquire carbon from their environment - from air, water, soil, and rock and from other living things - through processes such as photosynthesis, respiration and decomposition. The carbon cycle model is a representation of the movement of carbon from sources to sinks through chemical and physical transfers. The carbon cycle activity allows students to see the effect of fossil fuel burning on the carbon cycle.

TEACHER RESOURCES Teacher Materials Student Activity Student    Assessment Learning    Goals/Standards COMPUTER MODELS STELLA Versions isee Player software Right-click to download the models PC Format Mac Format Vensim Versions Vensim PLE Software Right-click to download the models Carbon Cycle with constant emissions Carbon Cycle with variable emissions Web-based Simulation

THE MODEL DIAGRAM THE EQUATIONS ATMOSPHERE(t) = ATMOSPHERE(t - dt) + (T_Res + M_Res + T_Decomp + M_Decomp + Emissions - T_Photo - M_Photo) *dt INIT ATMOSPHERE = 690 MARINE(t) = MARINE(t - dt) + (M_Photo - M_Res - M_Death) *dt INIT MARINE = 7 M_DEAD_ORGANIC(t) = M_DEAD_ORGANIC(t - dt) + (M_Death - M_Decomp) *dt INIT M_DEAD_ORGANIC = 3000 TERRESTRIAL(t) = TERRESTRIAL(t - dt) + (T_Photo - T_Res - T_Death) *dt INIT TERRESTRIAL = 450 T_DEAD_ORGANIC(t) = T_DEAD_ORGANIC(t - dt) + (T_Death - T_Decomp) *dt INIT T_DEAD_ORGANIC = 700 FOSSIL_FUELS(t) = FOSSIL_FUELS(t - dt) + (- Emissions) *dt INIT FOSSIL_FUELS = 10000 T_Res = 23*(TERRESTRIAL/450) T_Photo = 48*(ATMOSPHERE/690) T_Decomp = 25*(T_DEAD_ORGANIC/700) T_Death = 25*(TERRESTRIAL/450) M_Res = 5*(MARINE/7) M_Photo = 35*(ATMOSPHERE/690) M_Decomp = 30*(M_DEAD_ORGANIC/3000) M_Death = 30*(MARINE/7) Emissions = 5.5

THE OUTPUT

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