Carbon Cycle and Photosynthesis in the Ocean
The carbon cycle in the ocean has an organic component and an inorganic component. The inorganic part acts as a pump of CO2 in and out of the ocean depending on the temperature of the water. CO2 actually has a larger solubility in cold water than in warm water. So in the colder oceans, the polar oceans, CO2 is being pumped from the atmosphere then put into the ocean, while in the warmer regions CO2 is being put into the atmosphere from the oceans. Councidentaly the Pacific is the biggest single natural source of CO2 to the atmosphere. It is because cold water is being brought to the surface in the Eastern part of the Pacific, which is then being warmed by the sun causing the CO2 to be lifted into the atmosphere.
The organic part of the Carbon Cycle also acts as a pump of carbon to and from the atmospere. The CO2 from the water can then be turned into bicarbonate, and carbonate. Then plants like plankton and alge can use the CO2 to make food and energy through the process of Photosynthesis. Carbon is used during photosynthesis and then released during cellular respiration. In photosynthesis, in this case the alge or the plankton, anitially take in carbon dioxide it mixes the carbon dioxide with water and energy from the sun to create glucose, which is what the plant eats, and oxygen which mammals breathe in. For Cellular respiration the opposite happens. Cellular respiration occurs when glucose is digested in an organisms body. The body then breaks down to create carbon dioxide, water, and energy, which is needed to fuel the body. |