The Carbon Cycle

The Carbon Cycle

The carbon cycle is one of the important cycles at the global levels. Carbon moves in the biosphere through various pathways. Human activities are making a significant impact on the global carbon cycle. The burning of fossil fuel, agro-industrial activity, deforestation etc. are increasing in the concentration in the atmosphere steadily. Flows between the atmosphere and the oceans were balanced until the onset of the industrial age.

The atmospheric CO2 enters the plants at the time of photosynthesis. This is a process by which plants prepare their own food in the presence of sunlight. The carbon from CO2 is retained inside the plant and the oxygen is released into the environment. Animals eat plants and so the stored carbon enters their bodies. This carbon is then released back into the atmosphere by respiration.

Sometimes trees, plants and animals get buried in the earths crust, and then due to immense pressure and heat this organic matter after thousands of years gets turned into fossil fuels. These fossil fuels are taken out of the ground by man and are burned, again releasing carbon back into the atmosphere.