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1.2.1 Importance of Carbon and
Water
Topic Physical - Earth's Life Support Systems
1.1 Water and Carbon Support Life on
Earth
The importance of water in supporting life on the planet, the uses of water
for humans, flora and fauna.
Carbon is the building block of life on Earth. It is available for use in the
natural world and by humans.
Water and carbon cycling between the land, oceans and atmosphere
through open and closed systems
Importance of Water
Biological role:
Universal solvent → enables biochemical reactions.
Medium for transport (blood, sap).
Regulates temperature via high specific heat capacity.
For flora:
Photosynthesis requires water.
Provides turgor pressure for plant structure.
Transports nutrients/minerals through xylem.
For fauna/humans:
Essential for hydration, digestion, excretion.
1.2.1 Importance of Carbon and Water 1
, Used in agriculture, industry, energy production.
Cultural and recreational value.
Global climate regulation:
Water vapour is a greenhouse gas.
Oceans store and redistribute heat via currents.
Importance of Carbon
Biological role:
Fundamental building block of organic molecules (proteins,
carbohydrates, lipids).
Stored in biomass, soils, fossil fuels.
For humans:
Energy source (coal, oil, gas).
Raw material for industry (plastics, chemicals).
Global climate regulation:
Carbon dioxide and methane are greenhouse gases.
Carbon sequestration moderates atmospheric concentrations.
Cycling Between Land, Oceans, Atmosphere
Open systems:
Inputs and outputs cross boundaries (e.g. precipitation, solar energy).
Closed systems:
Matter cycles within Earth (e.g. global water cycle is closed at planetary
scale).
Interactions:
Carbon dissolves in oceans → ocean-atmosphere exchange.
Water facilitates carbon transport (e.g. rivers carrying dissolved
carbon).
Vegetation links cycles: photosynthesis requires water and carbon.
1.2.1 Importance of Carbon and Water 2
, 1.2 Carbon and Water Cycles are Systems
The distribution and size of the major stores in the carbon and water
systems, including the atmosphere, oceans, water bodies, ice (cryosphere),
soil, vegetation and groundwater.
The characteristics of the main inputs and outputs of the water cycle,
including precipitation and snowmelt (ablation) and evapotranspiration.
The characteristics of the main inputs and outputs of the carbon cycle,
including precipitation, photosynthesis, decomposition, weathering
(including main forms of chemical weathering) respiration and combustion
Major Stores
Water cycle stores:
Atmosphere (water vapour, clouds)
Oceans (largest store)
Cryosphere (ice sheets, glaciers)
Terrestrial water bodies (lakes, rivers)
Groundwater (aquifers)
Soil moisture
Vegetation (biomass water)
Carbon cycle stores:
Atmosphere (CO2, CH4)
Oceans (dissolved CO2, carbonate sediments)
Fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
Soils (organic matter, humus)
Vegetation (biomass carbon)
Cryosphere (permafrost carbon)
Inputs and Outputs - Water Cycle
Inputs:
Precipitation (rain, snow, hail)
1.2.1 Importance of Carbon and Water 3
, Snowmelt/ablation (release from cryosphere)
Outputs:
Evaporation (surface water to atmosphere)
Transpiration (plants releasing water vapour)
Evapotranspiration (combined process)
Inputs and Outputs - Carbon Cycle
Inputs:
Photosynthesis (plants absorb CO2)
Precipitation (acid rain dissolving carbonates)
Outputs:
Respiration (release of CO2)
Decomposition (organic matter breakdown)
Combustion (natural fires, fossil fuel burning)
Weathering:
Chemical weathering (carbonic acid dissolving limestone)
Physical weathering (freeze-thaw, exfoliation aiding carbon release)
1.3 Water and Carbon Cycles have
Distinctive Processes and Pathways
The processes of the water cycle, including evaporation, transpiration,
condensation (including formation of clouds), precipitation (including
causes
of precipitation), interception, ablation, runoff (including overland flow and
saturated overland flow), catchment hydrology (including infiltration,
percolation, throughflow, groundwater flow and cryospheric processes).
The processes of the carbon cycle, including photosynthesis, respiration,
decomposition, combustion (including natural and fossil fuel use), natural
sequestration in oceans, vegetation, sediments and weathering.
Water Cycle Processes
1.2.1 Importance of Carbon and Water 4
1.2.1 Importance of Carbon and
Water
Topic Physical - Earth's Life Support Systems
1.1 Water and Carbon Support Life on
Earth
The importance of water in supporting life on the planet, the uses of water
for humans, flora and fauna.
Carbon is the building block of life on Earth. It is available for use in the
natural world and by humans.
Water and carbon cycling between the land, oceans and atmosphere
through open and closed systems
Importance of Water
Biological role:
Universal solvent → enables biochemical reactions.
Medium for transport (blood, sap).
Regulates temperature via high specific heat capacity.
For flora:
Photosynthesis requires water.
Provides turgor pressure for plant structure.
Transports nutrients/minerals through xylem.
For fauna/humans:
Essential for hydration, digestion, excretion.
1.2.1 Importance of Carbon and Water 1
, Used in agriculture, industry, energy production.
Cultural and recreational value.
Global climate regulation:
Water vapour is a greenhouse gas.
Oceans store and redistribute heat via currents.
Importance of Carbon
Biological role:
Fundamental building block of organic molecules (proteins,
carbohydrates, lipids).
Stored in biomass, soils, fossil fuels.
For humans:
Energy source (coal, oil, gas).
Raw material for industry (plastics, chemicals).
Global climate regulation:
Carbon dioxide and methane are greenhouse gases.
Carbon sequestration moderates atmospheric concentrations.
Cycling Between Land, Oceans, Atmosphere
Open systems:
Inputs and outputs cross boundaries (e.g. precipitation, solar energy).
Closed systems:
Matter cycles within Earth (e.g. global water cycle is closed at planetary
scale).
Interactions:
Carbon dissolves in oceans → ocean-atmosphere exchange.
Water facilitates carbon transport (e.g. rivers carrying dissolved
carbon).
Vegetation links cycles: photosynthesis requires water and carbon.
1.2.1 Importance of Carbon and Water 2
, 1.2 Carbon and Water Cycles are Systems
The distribution and size of the major stores in the carbon and water
systems, including the atmosphere, oceans, water bodies, ice (cryosphere),
soil, vegetation and groundwater.
The characteristics of the main inputs and outputs of the water cycle,
including precipitation and snowmelt (ablation) and evapotranspiration.
The characteristics of the main inputs and outputs of the carbon cycle,
including precipitation, photosynthesis, decomposition, weathering
(including main forms of chemical weathering) respiration and combustion
Major Stores
Water cycle stores:
Atmosphere (water vapour, clouds)
Oceans (largest store)
Cryosphere (ice sheets, glaciers)
Terrestrial water bodies (lakes, rivers)
Groundwater (aquifers)
Soil moisture
Vegetation (biomass water)
Carbon cycle stores:
Atmosphere (CO2, CH4)
Oceans (dissolved CO2, carbonate sediments)
Fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
Soils (organic matter, humus)
Vegetation (biomass carbon)
Cryosphere (permafrost carbon)
Inputs and Outputs - Water Cycle
Inputs:
Precipitation (rain, snow, hail)
1.2.1 Importance of Carbon and Water 3
, Snowmelt/ablation (release from cryosphere)
Outputs:
Evaporation (surface water to atmosphere)
Transpiration (plants releasing water vapour)
Evapotranspiration (combined process)
Inputs and Outputs - Carbon Cycle
Inputs:
Photosynthesis (plants absorb CO2)
Precipitation (acid rain dissolving carbonates)
Outputs:
Respiration (release of CO2)
Decomposition (organic matter breakdown)
Combustion (natural fires, fossil fuel burning)
Weathering:
Chemical weathering (carbonic acid dissolving limestone)
Physical weathering (freeze-thaw, exfoliation aiding carbon release)
1.3 Water and Carbon Cycles have
Distinctive Processes and Pathways
The processes of the water cycle, including evaporation, transpiration,
condensation (including formation of clouds), precipitation (including
causes
of precipitation), interception, ablation, runoff (including overland flow and
saturated overland flow), catchment hydrology (including infiltration,
percolation, throughflow, groundwater flow and cryospheric processes).
The processes of the carbon cycle, including photosynthesis, respiration,
decomposition, combustion (including natural and fossil fuel use), natural
sequestration in oceans, vegetation, sediments and weathering.
Water Cycle Processes
1.2.1 Importance of Carbon and Water 4
