Carbon Cycle Animation Transcript

Decomposition | Forms and Function | Management of Soil Organic Matter | Carbon Cycle

Scene one

Shows an animation of a cow standing in a paddock during the day, there is cloud of vapour to demonstrate carbon dioxide (CO₂) suspended in the atmosphere. This frame is accompanied with the text "Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a small proportion of our atmosphere."

Scene two

Plants and grasses around the cow grow and an arrow is displayed demonstration that their roots absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by the process of photosynthesis and accumulate organic carbon compounds. The scene is accompanied with the text "During the day, plants absorb carbon dioxide and convert it to organic carbon (photosynthesis)."

Scene three

Frame three of the animation shows the cow still in the paddock and the scene changes to night to show that during this part of the day, some carbon is released as carbon dioxide (respiration). This frame is accompanied with the text "During the night, some carbon is released as carbon dioxide (respiration)."

Scene four

The animation shows that grazing animals eat the plants and therefore carbon is transformed to animal tissue and dung. This scene is accompanies with the text "Grazing animals transform plant carbon to animal tissue and dung. Some carbon dioxide is respired."

Scene five

This scene shows that plants and their roots eventually die and carbon is transferred back to the soil. The scene is accompanied with the text "Carbon is transferred to the soil through dead plant tops and roots (litter) and through leakage from living roots (exudates)."

Scene six

The scene changes to a diagram under the surface showing that plant litter exudates and dung are decomposed by micro-organisms. The scene is accompanied with the text "Plant litter, exudates and dung are decomposed by soil micro-organisms. Carbon is converted to microbial tissue and more carbon dioxide."

Scene seven

The scene stays the under the surface and a diagram demonstrates that micro-organisms die and are consumed by other organisms producing more microbial tissue and more carbon dioxide. The scene is accompanied with the text "Micro-organisms die and are consumed by other organisms to produce more microbial tissue and more carbon dioxide."

Scene eight

The scene shows a vehicle moving across the animation harvesting a crop. The scene is accompanied with the text "Harvest: Carbon can be removed by harvesting plant and animal products'.

Scene nine

The scene shows a cloud of smoke and an arrow moving upwards into the atmosphere. The scene is accompanied with the text "Burning: Carbon can be removed by burning, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere'.

Scene ten

The scene shows soil being eroded, there is an arrow that moves across the animation with the direction of the soil being eroded by the wind. The scene is accompanied with the text "Erosion: Carbon can also be removed by soil erosion'.

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