vonAnupama Sapkota
Index
carbon cycleDefinition
The carbon cycle is a biogeochemical cycle in which different forms of carbon compounds circulate through the Earth's different systems, such as: B. the atmosphere,biosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere.
- In a cyclical process, the carbon cycle determines the flow of carbon between reservoirs, from the atmosphere to living things and back into the atmosphere.
- Various factors such as living things affect the carbon cycle, climate change, ocean chemistry and even geochemical activity.
- Carbon, in the form of organic and inorganic compounds, is an essential component of living and non-living things.
- It is the essential element for various biomolecules such as carbohydrates, amino acids and nucleotides.
- The most important source of carbon on earth is CO2that remains in the air or is dissolved in water.
- The cycling of carbon from one form to another occurs between reservoirs through various processes such asphotosynthesis, respiration and combustion.
- The main carbon reservoirs include the atmosphere, the oceans, and three terrestrial compartments made up of land plants, their detritus, and soil, collectively referred to as the terrestrial biosphere.
- Components such as rivers, lakes, and animals are not considered significant reservoirs, but rather act as part of the pathways that connect the Earth's biosphere to the oceans and atmosphere.
- The lithosphere, which stores a lot of carbon in limestone and shale, forms the fourth reservoir, but is not considered as important as it interacts very slowly with the other reservoirs.
- Because the Earth is a closed system, the amount of carbon in the Earth does not change, but the concentration of carbon in a reservoir can change depending on the carbon cycle process.
- The carbon cycle is an important natural phenomenon as it balances the amount of carbon in different forms to make the earth a hospitable place to live.
- The carbon cycle can be classified as fast and slow depending on the time it takes for carbon compounds to move from one reservoir to another.
The slow carbon cycle
- The slow carbon cycle is defined by the cyclical movement of carbon compounds between the atmosphere, land and ocean, generally lasting between 100 and 200 million years.
- The slow carbon cycle forms the lithospheric reservoir, where carbon is stored in rocks and soils, which is then slowly circulated into the atmosphere and hydrosphere.
- This cycle moves around about 1011-1013Grams of carbon in a year across different reservoirs.
- The slow carbon cycle begins with the formation of carbonic acid when atmospheric carbon combines with water.
- The acid then dissolves the rock, releasing carbon and calcium compounds and flowing into rivers that eventually end up in the oceans.
- Calcium combines with carbon compounds to form calcium carbonate, which forms shells and layered sediments on the sea floor.
- Carbon stored in the ocean then enters the atmosphere through processes such as volcanoes, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
- Equalizing the amounts of carbon in another pool in the slow carbon cycle takes a few thousand years.
The fast carbon cycle
- The rapid carbon cycle is the movement of carbon through the living components of the earth or biosphere, usually in a short period of time.
- The rapid carbon cycle operates with the daily exchange of gases between living beings, affecting changes in carbon stocks for decades.
- The cycle moves by more than 1015for 1017Grams of different forms of carbon in a year.
- Living things are the main stores of carbon in the rapid carbon cycle, since carbon in the form of biomolecules forms an essential part of life.
- The movement of carbon in the rapid carbon cycle begins with green plants absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
- Plants then convert carbon dioxide into an organic form through the process of photosynthesis.
- The organic carbon then moves through various forms of life, such as B. animals, before it is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide through respiration.
- Another form of carbon dioxide release occurs during decomposition, where various microorganisms break down the organic compound.
- The rapid carbon cycle is closely related to plants as they are essential for converting inorganic carbon into its organic form.
- The concentration of carbon in the different pools during the rapid carbon cycle changes over a short period of time, allowing for a comparatively shorter time for equilibrium.
Figure:carbon cycle.Image source:OpenStaxName.
Steps of the carbon cycle
The carbon cycle consists of the various geochemical pools that store carbon on Earth and the pathways that transport carbon between them. The movement of carbon through different reservoirs on Earth occurs in different stages, all of which work together to maintain the planet's balance. Below are the steps of the carbon cycle process.
1. Entry of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
- The first step in the carbon cycle is the release of carbon dioxide, an inorganic form of carbon, into the atmosphere.
- Originally, this process occurred through natural processes such as volcanic and asteroid activity, which led to the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
- In the slow carbon cycle, carbon present in the lithosphere (limestone and other sediments in the oceans) is released into the atmosphere by volcanic activity.
- Activities such as the use and burning of fossil fuels also release inorganic carbon into the atmosphere.
- Nowadays, however, carbon dioxide is also released through metabolic processes such as respiration, decomposition or the burning of wood or fossil fuels by humans.
- Carbon dioxide is the starting point of the carbon cycle, followed by processes that transform the inorganic form into the organic form.
2. Uptake of carbon dioxide by producers
- Carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere enters the Earth's biosphere via green plants and algae that absorb CO2during the process of photosynthesis.
- Producers are a group of living things capable of producing the inorganic form of carbon (CO2) into the organic form (carbohydrates).
- Photosynthesis is an essential step in the carbon cycle, mainly responsible for moving carbon from the atmosphere to the biosphere.
- In addition, in the case of the oceanic reservoir, atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves in the water for use by various underwater producers.
- In the presence of energy (sun or chemical), inorganic carbon dioxide is converted to an energy-rich organic form.
3. Movement of carbon compounds in the food chain
- The organic form of carbon produced by the producers then moves through the food chain as consumers feed on the producers, resulting in the movement of carbon from one life form to another.
- The organic form of the carbon also changes as it passes through the consumer.
- These consumers use these compounds to generate energy and release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the breathing process.
- Consumers convert some of the carbon into biomolecules and store them for living processes.
- However, some of it is converted to carbon dioxide and released into the atmosphere to maintain a balanced concentration of carbon in different reservoirs.
4. Release of carbon through decomposition
- Finally, when all plants and consumers die, their corpses are fed to various decomposers.
- These decomposers convert the organic form of carbon into the inorganic form, creating a cycle.
- These decomposers include microorganisms such as fungi and some bacteria, which feed on complex organic compounds and convert them into a simpler inorganic form.
- Some of the inorganic carbon remains in the soil to form sediments that eventually result in the lithosphere, while the rest is released into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide and other gases.
- The remaining carbon in the soil eventually forms fossil fuels, which are then burned to release carbon into the atmosphere as well.
Examples of the carbon cycle
In addition to the carbon cycle, there are many parallel systems that are indirectly involved in the transport of carbon through different reservoirs to maintain relative equilibrium. There are different reservoirs in different ecosystems, all of which can absorb carbon, release it, and transport it from one form to another.
1. Atmosphere
- The atmosphere primarily serves as a passive carbon sink.
- It stores carbonaceous gases that escaped from the other two reservoirs due to their volatility.
- Carbon dioxide is the main form of carbon in the atmosphere, released through respiration or combustion.
- The carbon present in the atmosphere goes through different systems, either through absorption by producers, through mixing with water, or through dissolution in water.
- The atmosphere plays an important role in the carbon cycle as it acts as a carbon sink to maintain ecosystem balance.
- However, it is considered a passive reservoir because changes in carbon concentration in the atmosphere occur rapidly.
2. Biosphere
- The biosphere consists of living components of the earth and the oceanic carbon pool, resulting in a terrestrial and oceanic biosphere.
- The Earth's biosphere also acts as a sink for excess atmospheric CO.2because plants are sensitive to the amount of CO2no are
- In controlled experiments, when plants receive sufficient light and nutrients, they grow faster in ambient air with high CO concentrations2.
- Living things belong to different groups, with some absorbing carbon dioxide from the environment while others releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.
- Producers use carbon dioxide to form carbohydrates, which are then passed on to consumers.
- Decomposers eventually convert the organic compound into inorganic forms through the process of mineralization.
- The oceanic carbon pool contains a biospheric component composed of living marine plants and animals and their detritus, but it also stores a very significant amount of inorganic carbon in the form of dissolved bicarbonate and carbonate salts.
- The ocean also acts as a sink for excess atmospheric CO.2accumulate in the atmosphere due to seawater's ability to absorb CO2Gas.
3. Lithosphere
- The lithosphere acts as a reservoir for inorganic carbon in the form of soils and rocks.
- The lithosphere contains large amounts of carbon in limestone and shale, which participate in the slow carbon cycle.
- Volcanic activity releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which helps maintain the balance.
- The earth's crust also helps reduce carbon dioxide by burying dead plants and animals, thereby increasing carbon levels in the biosphere.
Importance of the carbon cycle
- The carbon cycle is important as it balances the amount of carbon on Earth, keeping the planet livable.
- Carbon is an essential element for all living things, and its movement through different systems helps to understand various biological factors and factors that affect them.
- Carbon dioxide is an essential gas in the atmosphere that protects the earth from the sun's harmful rays. However, the increased amount of carbon dioxide causes the earth to become insulated, which increases the temperature of the earth. Understanding the movement of carbon dioxide through different ecosystems helps to understand climate and the onset of global warming.
- The carbon cycle is also linked to the availability of other elements and compounds such as oxygen and sulfur.
- The carbon cycle allows energy to flow through the food chain. Carbon compounds transport trapped solar energy from producers to consumers to decomposers.
- The decomposition or mineralization process works like a natural waste disposal system.
- Various carbonaceous gases such as carbon dioxide and methane also influence the Earth's climate.
Human influences on the carbon cycle
- Human activities such as fossil fuel burning, land use change and limestone exploitation are responsible for transferring a large amount of carbon back into the atmosphere, disrupting the carbon cycle.
- The increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere amplifies the greenhouse effect and leads to a noticeable warming of the earth's surface. The increase in temperature on Earth affects all life forms and other components such as oceans and glaciers.
- Deforestation and urbanization are leading to the loss of green plants around the world, leading to an even greater increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
- Agriculture causes a change in land structure and vegetation that directly and indirectly affects the overall carbon cycle.
- The use of artificial fertilizers and deeper plowing increase soil mineralization and decrease soil organic matter.
- Industrial society, together with a rapidly growing world population and the increasing mechanization of agriculture and forestry, are changing large parts of the previously untouched landscape and thus the earth's biosphere.
Also read:
- Biosphere - definition, origin, components, importance, examples
- Sulfur cycle - definition, stages, examples, importance, effects on humans
- Phosphorus cycle - definition, stages, examples, importance, impact on humans
- Pregnancy week by week (baby and body development, tips)
- Biotic x abiotic factors - definition, 10 differences, examples
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About the author
Anupama Sapkota
Anupama Sapkota holds a B.Sc. in Microbiology from St. Xaviers College, Kathmandu, Nepal. She is particularly interested in studies on antibiotic resistance with a focus on drug discovery.
FAQs
What are examples of human impact on the carbon cycle? ›
Burning fossil fuels, changing land use, and using limestone to make concrete all transfer significant quantities of carbon into the atmosphere. As a result, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is rapidly rising; it is already greater than at any time in the last 3.6 million years.
What is the importance of carbon cycle to humans? ›The carbon cycle is vital to life on Earth. Nature tends to keep carbon levels balanced, meaning that the amount of carbon naturally released from reservoirs is equal to the amount that is naturally absorbed by reservoirs. Maintaining this carbon balance allows the planet to remain hospitable for life.
What is carbon cycle explain why is the carbon cycle important How do humans impact this cycle? ›The carbon cycle refers to how carbon transfers between different 'carbon reservoirs' (or carbon sinks) located on Earth. It's vital for maintaining a stable climate and carbon balance on our planet. Carbon is the lifeblood of Earth and is naturally regulated by the carbon cycle. Without it, the Earth would be frozen.
What is the impact of the carbon cycle? ›The changes in the carbon cycle impact each reservoir. Excess carbon in the atmosphere warms the planet and helps plants on land grow more. Excess carbon in the ocean makes the water more acidic, putting marine life in danger.
How can human impacts on the carbon cycle be prevented? ›Reducing carbon emissions through low carbon technology – prioritising renewable energy resources, recycling, minimising energy use and implementing energy conservation measures.
What is the greatest human impact on the carbon cycle quizlet? ›Humans affect the carbon cycle by burning fossil fuels and cutting down trees. Car exhausts and factory emissions produce a lot of extra CO2 in the atmosphere! Cars made today produce less pollution, but there are more cars = more CO2 emissions!
How do you explain the carbon cycle? ›The carbon cycle is nature's way of reusing carbon atoms, which travel from the atmosphere into organisms in the Earth and then back into the atmosphere over and over again. Most carbon is stored in rocks and sediments, while the rest is stored in the ocean, atmosphere, and living organisms.
What is carbon cycle in simple words? ›The Carbon Cycle. The element carbon is a part of seawater, the atmosphere, rocks such as limestone and coal, soils, as well as all living things. On our dynamic planet, carbon is able to move from one of these realms to another as a part of the carbon cycle. Carbon moves from the atmosphere to plants.
What are the 5 importance of carbon dioxide? ›Carbon dioxide is used as a refrigerant, in fire extinguishers, for inflating life rafts and life jackets, blasting coal, foaming rubber and plastics, promoting the growth of plants in greenhouses, immobilizing animals before slaughter, and in carbonated beverages.
What is the importance of the carbon cycle quizlet? ›Question: Why is the carbon cycle important? The carbon cycle is important because it can effect the amount of heat contained in the atmosphere. The amount of heat in the atmosphere, can effect other things, for example ocean level and the size of the poles.
What are the 4 steps of the carbon cycle? ›
- Carbon enters the atmosphere as CO2.
- CO2 is absorbed by autotrophs such as green plants.
- Animals consume plants, thereby, incorporating carbon into their system.
- Animals and plants die, their bodies decompose and carbon is reabsorbed back into the atmosphere.
Many human activities have a significant impact on the nitrogen cycle. Burning fossil fuels, application of nitrogen-based fertilizers, and other activities can dramatically increase the amount of biologically available nitrogen in an ecosystem.
What impact does carbon dioxide have on the environment? ›Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere warms the planet, causing climate change. Human activities have raised the atmosphere's carbon dioxide content by 50% in less than 200 years.
What are the different types of carbon cycle? ›The carbon cycle has two components: the fast carbon cycle and the slow carbon cycle. The fast cycle involves biological processes, such as photosynthesis and decomposition, while the slow cycle involves transitions of inorganic carbon, such as the weathering of rocks and soils.
How does carbon affect climate change? ›Without carbon dioxide, Earth's natural greenhouse effect would be too weak to keep the average global surface temperature above freezing. By adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, people are supercharging the natural greenhouse effect, causing global temperature to rise.
Which of the following is our largest human impact on the carbon cycle? ›The burning of fossil fuels, which rapidly releases carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas into the atmosphere, increasing average global temperatures and causing ocean acidification.
What has been the greatest human impact on the carbon cycle 1? ›The most important human impact on the carbon cycle is the burning of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere and enhances global warming.
What has the biggest impact on carbon emissions? ›Human activities are responsible for almost all of the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere over the last 150 years. The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities in the United States is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation.
How do you explain the carbon cycle to first graders? ›The carbon cycle is the process of how carbon travels from living to non-living objects. Atoms are the smallest particle found in any object. If you were to shred a paper to pieces so small you couldn't see the paper anymore, you would find the paper is made of different types of atoms and one of these atoms is carbon.
What are the steps in the carbon cycle and what are the processes called? ›Photosynthesis, Decomposition, Respiration and Combustion. Carbon cycles from the atmosphere into plants and living things.
What is the importance of carbon? ›
The Short Answer: Carbon is in carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas that traps heat close to Earth. It helps Earth hold some of the heat it receives from the Sun so it doesn't all escape back into space.
What is the importance of carbon dioxide Short answer? ›Carbon dioxide is an important greenhouse gas that helps to trap heat in our atmosphere. Without it, our planet would be inhospitably cold. However, an increase in CO2 concentrations in our atmosphere is causing average global temperatures to rise, disrupting other aspects of Earth's climate.
How do humans produce carbon dioxide? ›Human activities that lead to carbon dioxide emissions come primarily from energy production, including burning coal, oil, or natural gas.
What two main processes in living organisms are important in the carbon cycle? ›Cellular respiration and photosynthesis are important parts of the carbon cycle. The carbon cycle is the pathways through which carbon is recycled in the biosphere. While cellular respiration releases carbon dioxide into the environment, photosynthesis pulls carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
What are the 5 parts of the carbon cycle? ›The carbon cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of Earth. Carbon is the main component of biological compounds as well as a major component of many minerals such as limestone.
What are the 3 chemical reactions in the carbon cycle? ›Metabolism, photosynthesis, and mineralization are the major chemical processes.
What is the first stage of carbon cycle? ›Stage one: Carbon enters the atmosphere by - respiration in organisms (e.g. animals breathing) - combustion (e.g. burning of fossil fuels/ wood) - decomposition and decay (microorganisms respiration) Stage two: Carbon Dioxide is absorbed by producers in photosynthesis.
What are 3 examples of human impact on the nitrogen cycle? ›Most of the human activities responsible for the increase in global nitrogen are local in scale, from the production and use of nitrogen fertilizers to the burning of fossil fuels in automobiles, power generation plants, and industries.
How do humans impact the sulfur cycle? ›Human activities have played a major role in altering the balance of the global sulfur cycle. The burning of large quantities of fossil fuels, especially from coal, releases large amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas into the atmosphere, creating acid rain.
How are humans impacting the phosphorus cycle? ›Humans greatly influence the phosphorus cycle through the release of mined phosphates into ecosystems, especially in the form of fertilizers, but also from detergents and sewage waste.
How does carbon dioxide affect animals? ›
Exposing animals to carbon dioxide can cause distress because acutely sensitive CO2 chemoreceptors and pH receptors have evolved in vertebrates, with the result that carbon dioxide is a potent respiratory stimulant that rapidly induces dyspnoea [impaired breathing, often called “air hunger”] or breathlessness.
How does climate change affect the environment? ›More frequent and intense drought, storms, heat waves, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and warming oceans can directly harm animals, destroy the places they live, and wreak havoc on people's livelihoods and communities. As climate change worsens, dangerous weather events are becoming more frequent or severe.
What are the 4 main groups of carbon? ›- Carbohydrates.
- Lipids.
- Proteins.
- Nucleic acids.
Diamond, Graphite, Fullerene, and carbon nanotubes are prominent allotropes of carbon.
What are the 3 forms of carbon in our environment? ›Carbon is found on Earth in the form of three different allotropes including amorphous, graphite, and diamond.
What is the prevention of greenhouse effect? ›Prevention of Greenhouse Effect
Afforestation: Afforestation on a large scale area helps in decreasing the release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Conservation of energy: Switching to renewable sources of energy such as solar energy, wind energy, etc will reduce the use of fossil fuels.
The unit of measure used in a GHG inventory is tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). This value represents different greenhouse gases and, their varying global warming potentials converted into equivalent tonnes of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is often used to represent the vast majority of GHG emissions.
How does energy affect global warming? ›When fossil fuels are burned, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the air. Greenhouse gases trap heat in our atmosphere, causing global warming.
What is an example of human impact on the nitrogen cycle? ›Since the mid-1900s, humans have been exerting an ever-increasing impact on the global nitrogen cycle. Human activities, such as making fertilizers and burning fossil fuels, have significantly altered the amount of fixed nitrogen in the Earth's ecosystems.
What are human impacts on the nitrogen cycle? ›Most of the human activities responsible for the increase in global nitrogen are local in scale, from the production and use of nitrogen fertilizers to the burning of fossil fuels in automobiles, power generation plants, and industries.
How have human activities impacted these cycles and the resulting potential consequences on the planet? ›
Human activities have greatly increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and nitrogen levels in the biosphere. Altered biogeochemical cycles combined with climate change increase the vulnerability of biodiversity, food security, human health, and water quality to a changing climate.
What are natural factors affecting carbon cycle? ›Changes in the carbon cycle over time, to include natural variation (including wild fires, volcanic activity) and human impact (including hydrocarbon fuel extraction and burning, farming practices, deforestation, land use changes). The Carbon cycle and the location of carbon has changed over vast periods of time.
What is the human impact on the phosphorus cycle? ›Humans greatly influence the phosphorus cycle through the release of mined phosphates into ecosystems, especially in the form of fertilizers, but also from detergents and sewage waste.
What are the human impacts to the carbon and nitrogen cycles? ›Human activities are substantially modifying the global carbon and nitrogen cycles. The global carbon cycle is being modified principally by the burning of fossil fuels, and also by deforestation; these activities are increasing the carbon dioxide concentration of the atmosphere and changing global climate.
How are humans impacting the water cycle? ›Humans directly change the dynamics of the water cycle through dams constructed for water storage, and through water withdrawals for industrial, agricultural, or domestic purposes. Climate change is expected to additionally affect water supply and demand.
How do humans impact the nitrogen cycle Do we contribute to it do we negatively impact it? ›Scientists have determined that humans are disrupting the nitrogen cycle by altering the amount of nitrogen that is stored in the biosphere. The chief culprit is fossil fuel combustion, which releases nitric oxides into the air that combine with other elements to form smog and acid rain.
What are the five impacts of human activities on the ecosystem? ›Impacts from human activity on land and in the water can influence ecosystems profoundly. Climate change, ocean acidification, permafrost melting, habitat loss, eutrophication, stormwater runoff, air pollution, contaminants, and invasive species are among many problems facing ecosystems.
How are humans activities affecting each cycle? ›Human activities cause an imbalance in biogeochemical cycles. Human activities such as polluting the water bodies or deforestation have increased the CO2 level in the atmosphere and also nitrogen level in the biosphere. This leads to a problem such as cultural eutrophication.
When did humans start to impact the environment? ›Scientists generally regard the later part of the 19th century as the point at which human activity started influencing the climate.
What is carbon cycle summary? ›The carbon cycle is nature's way of reusing carbon atoms, which travel from the atmosphere into organisms in the Earth and then back into the atmosphere over and over again. Most carbon is stored in rocks and sediments, while the rest is stored in the ocean, atmosphere, and living organisms.
How does carbon affect climate? ›
Without carbon dioxide, Earth's natural greenhouse effect would be too weak to keep the average global surface temperature above freezing. By adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, people are supercharging the natural greenhouse effect, causing global temperature to rise.
What are the main causes of carbon? ›There are both natural and human sources of carbon dioxide emissions. Natural sources include decomposition, ocean release and respiration. Human sources come from activities like cement production, deforestation as well as the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas.