Mini-Project #2

The Carbon Cycle is defined as the biochemical cycle in which carbon is exchanged through the biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere of the Earth. Above is a simplified diagram of how the carbon is exchanged and how the carbon cycle works as a whole.

Carbon is abundant in ocean and sedimentary rock. As soon as the carbon reaches the water, it precipitates and forms calcium carbonate. Through this process corals and algae build up limestone reefs. The built up reefs give creatures a suitable environment for which they live in. Also this gives way for future respiration allowing future exchanges for carbon.

Through photosynthesis, plants convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates which either liberated into the atmosphere or is consumed by animals or decomposed into the soil for future exchanges.

The impact that humans have on the carbon cycle is that humans simply just throw off the entire cycle. By burning fossil fuels, humans release far more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere then the environment naturally releases. This means more demand for plants to convert through photosynthesis. When the demand is not satisfied, there is excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which allows more energy from the sun to reach Earth, but a reduction in how much is released back into space, thus causing global warming.

Jaitegh Singh