the carbon cycle essay

extreme weather conditions, such as hurricanes and tornadoes Is the carbon cycle involved? Recent scientific evidence indicates that humans have upset the carbon cycle, leaving more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas, burning biomass such as ethanol and wood, creating cement and releasing other chemicals into the atmosphere is upsetting the natural flow of carbon. Greenhouse gases in our atmosphere act almost like a blanket between

Global Cycles For the thermonuclear reaction involving carbon that powers some stars, see CNO cycle. For organic chemical ring-shaped structures, see cyclic compounds. This diagram of the fast carbon cycle shows the movement of carbon between land, atmosphere, and oceans in billions of tons per year. Yellow numbers are natural fluxes, red are human contributions, white indicate stored carbon. Note this diagram does not account for volcanic and tectonic activity, which also sequesters and releases

sustain conditions suitable for life because of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. But in past few decades, the planet has been growing warmer due to the increase of greenhouse gases, specifically carbon dioxide, due to the increase of unnatural amounts of carbon that are being released into the atmosphere and can’t be gotten rid of or put to good use by the carbon cycle (Global Warming, 2016). The carbon cycle is made up of the two different processes of photosynthesis and cellular

well as pollution (Coon, 2014). PH levels are also increasing in oceans due to a rise in carbon, causing waters to become more acidic effecting several organisms that reside in the ocean. The increase in carbon, nitrogen and other greenhouse gasses also impacts temperature as more heat is being trapped inside the earth causing temperatures to rise having severe impacts upon the environment (EPA 2016). Each cycle is interrelated and has knock-on effects which impact abiotic factors and therefore several

disturbance that humans are creating can have a great effect on the cycles of matter. One cycle that is affected is the carbon cycle. Rainforests are often called the “lungs” of Earth because they take in enormous amounts of carbon and also release about 40% of Earth’s oxygen (Taylor). Forests absorb about 2.4 billion metric tons of carbon each year (Kintisch). During photosynthesis, producers, or autotrophs use, absorb, and store carbon dioxide while also releasing oxygen. Especially considering the

An ecosystem is a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment. Ecology is a branch of biology having to deal with the relations and interactions between organisms, their environment, and other organisms. A community in an ecosystem is an assemblage of interacting populations occupying a given area. A habitat is an area or environment where an organism or an ecological community lives. There is a large diversity in an ecosystem, for example, the species, environment

will face in the future due to recent plans. In addition, I will discuss the impacts of the plans in regard to the citizens and town reputation, along with alternatives and ways to educate citizens about their ecological impact. Currently, the town’s carbon load is increasing due to an office park building several manufacturing factories and in the future if the proposal for a landfill is passed. Both of these events will take a toll on our environment and neighboring town if they aren’t terminated.

Carbon is always cycling around the earth, whether it's plants or animals, both require carbon. Plants get it from taking carbon dioxide from the oxygen that is in the air. Plants then use this and the sunlight's energy to make food for themselves. Animals get energy by eating the plants or eating other animals that have eaten those plants. During cell respiration, oxygen and food both provide energy. Respiration makes then carbon dioxide, which is then put out into the atmosphere. But if there

biogeochemical cycles The Carbon Cycle The carbon cycle comprises a number of inter-related cycles. Generally, the effect is constant recycling of carbon in the continuous dynamic processes in the atmosphere, in the earth’s crust, and at the surface. Wood combustion, for instance, deposits carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is absorbed by plants and turned to nutrients for sustenance and growth (Soundry, 2008). Animals consume the plants for food and nutrients, and exhale Carbon dioxide to the

Carbon is a chemical element vital to all living things and is present in many non-living things and is the fourth most abundant element and one of the most important which makes up a large proportion of matter in its various molecules. Its movements between the atmosphere, the ocean, living organisms such as plants, animals and micro-organisms) the solid part of Earth has allowed life to be sustained on earth for millions of years and is called the carbon cycle. The carbon cycle is a number of