Covering Carbon

Explain

In the ocean, an early life form, bacteria, used the power of sunlight to turn water and carbon dioxide into sugar with oxygen released as a byproduct of this process. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has changed over Earth's history. There used to be more of it, a lot more. Over time, the percent of oxygen in the atmosphere grew and Earth became more hospitable to other life forms. Carbon has always been one of the elements found on Earth, but atmospheric levels of Carbon have recently been increasing. There are both natural and man-made sources of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere. Deforestation and burning of fossil fuels are the main ways humans contribute to the carbon balance. One of the ways that carbon dioxide can enter the atmosphere through biological processes is by respiration of microbes in the soil. In the Arctic, there are soil-bound microbes which can actively respirate carbon dioxide even in temperatures as low as -2 to -10 degrees Celsius. This NASA video clip, "Keeping Up With Carbon," shows more about carbon and our planet:

Every time you breathe in, you remove oxygen from the air and when you breathe out, you put carbon dioxide into the air. Plants "breathe" too, but they take in carbon dioxide and put out oxygen. Decomposition uses oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. Both plants and the ocean remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but if it is being put into the atmosphere at a faster rate than it is being absorbed, the balance of the chemical makeup of Earth's air is changed. Carbon dioxide and methane gas (to a lesser extent) are both gases that absorb the heat that is reflected away from Earth, keeping some of the heat from being reflected back out into space. Individual weather incidents may vary across the planet, but overall trends in the climate are showing that with the increasing amount of these gases in the atmosphere, the average temperature is increasing. At the surface of the ocean, carbon dioxide dissolves in the water. The ocean floor holds the greatest amount of carbon on the planet. When the upwelling ocean currents bring carbon up to the surface, some of it is released into the atmosphere. Currently, scientists estimate that about 1/3 of the carbon emissions from human activity are absorbed into the ocean. The effects of atmospheric change on geological and biological systems in the Arctic, are beginning to cause problems that affect Alaska Native people in many ways. Erosion of coastal lands where villages have been built, changing ice flow patterns and differences in abundance of hunting and fishing sources are some of the ways that cultures in Alaska are being affected.

Extend

Monitoring carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere is something that NASA scientists have been working on for several years. They have developed equipment called AIRS (atmospheric infrared sounder) which has provided a way to monitor atmospheric levels of different gases, including carbon dioxide. This picture taken via satellite with NASA AIRS shows the comparison between 2003 and 2007.

Even in the presence of heavy clouds, this equipment can make observations all the way down to the Earth's surface. Keeping this type of data over many years will be valuable in understanding what is happening in our planet's atmosphere.

Evaluate

Scientists have observed changes in the chemistry of earth's atmosphere and oceans through collecting samples, climate data and water temperatures. At the same time, Alaska Natives have noticed changes to their surroundings and food sources. Observations relying on the eyes and comparison to the oral accounts of times past told by elders in the community are cultural ways Native Alaskans keep track of the changes going on in the Arctic. Some of the cultural values and skills that will help Arctic peoples deal with these changes are their strong survival skills, their patience and their perseverance.