Earth ID: 20006

Carbon Cycle

Animations by Susan Twardy Released on November 5, 2003

The Carbon Cycle - The carbon cycle on land, acted out here show a tree taking in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and combined with water and nutrients from the soil, growing. In the fall and winter, parts of the growth die off and release some carbon back into the system. At some point, the tree is no longer able to take in carbon and begins to die. When that happens, all the carbon absorbed in its body is released back into the cycle as it decomposes. Fire can accelerate this, sending plumes of carbon-laden aerosols into the atmosphere, as well as leaving carbon-rich ash deposits on the ground for further decomposition and recycling.

Animation Credits

Susan Twardy (HTSI): Lead Animator
Gene Feldman (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Michael Starobin (HTSI): Writer

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20006

Goddard TV Tape:
G2001-023

Keywords:
SVS >> Byrne
SVS >> Carbon Absorption
SVS >> Carbon Land Cycle
SVS >> Carbon Release
SVS >> Carbon Reserve
SVS >> Decompose
SVS >> Gonnelli
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Atmosphere
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Biosphere >> Ecological Dynamics >> Fire Occurrence
NASA Science >> Earth

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0