🌍Understand the Carbon Cycle on Earth
Map both halves of Earth's carbon cycle — the fast biological loop you already half-know, and the slow geological loop that explains why we're in trouble — and sketch the whole system from memory by day 14.
Phase 1The Four Reservoirs That Hold Every Carbon Atom
Map the four reservoirs that hold every carbon atom
Trees are the smallest carbon pool that matters
6 minTrees are the smallest carbon pool that matters
The atmosphere is a flow-through, not a storage tank
6 minThe atmosphere is a flow-through, not a storage tank
The ocean stores carbon as a chemical reaction, not a tank
7 minThe ocean stores carbon as a chemical reaction, not a tank
Most of Earth's carbon is locked in stone
7 minMost of Earth's carbon is locked in stone
Phase 2Sorting Fluxes Into Fast and Slow Loops
Classify every flux as fast or slow loop
The fast loop runs on photosynthesis and respiration
7 minThe fast loop runs on photosynthesis and respiration
The slow loop is volcanoes versus weathering
7 minThe slow loop is volcanoes versus weathering
Six fluxes, two timescales — sort them
6 minSix fluxes, two timescales — sort them
Residence time tells you which loop is in charge
7 minResidence time tells you which loop is in charge
Burning fossil fuels is geological time-travel
7 minBurning fossil fuels is geological time-travel
Phase 3How Disruption Lands in Air and Ocean
Connect cycle disruption to CO2 and ocean acidification
Half of every emitted ton goes somewhere quiet
7 minHalf of every emitted ton goes somewhere quiet
An oyster farmer in Oregon can't grow seed anymore
8 minAn oyster farmer in Oregon can't grow seed anymore
A friend insists trees will solve it. Test their math.
7 minA friend insists trees will solve it. Test their math.
The Arctic is starting to exhale
8 minThe Arctic is starting to exhale
Phase 4Sketch the Whole Cycle From Memory
Sketch the full carbon cycle from memory
Sketch both loops on one page from memory
20 minSketch both loops on one page from memory
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between the fast and slow carbon cycle?
- This is covered in the “Understand the Carbon Cycle on Earth” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
- How big are the four major carbon reservoirs on Earth?
- This is covered in the “Understand the Carbon Cycle on Earth” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
- Why does ocean acidification matter for the carbon cycle?
- This is covered in the “Understand the Carbon Cycle on Earth” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
- What is the geological carbon cycle and why is it ignored?
- This is covered in the “Understand the Carbon Cycle on Earth” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
- How do humans disrupt the natural carbon cycle?
- This is covered in the “Understand the Carbon Cycle on Earth” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
Related paths
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Replay the double-slit experiment until the wave-particle paradox dissolves, then record a 60-second voice note explaining duality to your past self.
💧Understand the Water Cycle Beyond the Diagram
Follow a single water molecule through every stage of its loop — ocean, cloud, leaf, soil, aquifer, river — and finish able to explain in a paragraph why Earth never runs out of water.
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Stop memorizing 'ionic, covalent, metallic' as three separate labels and start seeing them as one story — atoms trading, sharing, or pooling electrons to reach stability. By day 14, you'll predict a compound's bond type from its elements and explain why salt dissolves, copper conducts, and diamond doesn't scratch.