Carbon Cycle
The carbon cycle is a complex Earth system whereby carbon dioxide
(CO2) is exchanged among four main regions of the planet. In the
carbon cycle, CO2 is recycled through the atmosphere, biosphere,
geosphere and oceans and other waterways in what are called "sinks"
or reservoirs.
Land plants and animals are the most widely known respirators in
the biosphere of the carbon cycle. Plants take in CO2 and give off
oxygen, while humans and animals do the opposite.
Issues such as deforestation, reforestation, increasing or decreasing
human or animal populations affect the carbon cycle that happens
upon land.
But, in the carbon cycle, the greatest exchange of CO2 appears
between the atmosphere and the oceans and other waterways. Plant
life in the oceans, lakes and other waterways use photosynthesis
to turn dissolved CO2 into oxygen.
In the carbon cycle, carbon dioxide is taken from the atmosphere
in several various methods besides the plant life already mentioned.
At the Earth's north and south poles, cold seawater is especially
accepting of CO2 making, the substance soluble.
In addition, the thermohaline circulation of the ocean and surface
wind currents from the Gulf Stream drive surface water to great
depths and distances, circulating soluble CO2 throughout the oceans.
In another part of the cycle, oceanic plant and animal life absorb
carbon in hard and soft tissue of the organisms. The weathering
of carbon-containing rocks on land that runoff into the streams
and oceans also add to the carbon cycle.
But, the most threatening part of the natural carbon cycle are
the parts that are not natural at all. The burning of fossil fuels
in the transportation industry and electrical generation in coal
fired and natural gas fired power plants create an imbalance in
the carbon cycle.
Manmade activities such as the burning of fossil fuels over the
past 100 or so years have led to increased greenhouse gases that
in turned have led to global warming.
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Since it has taken
decades for the carbon cycle to become out of balance, because
of the release of greenhouse gases, it will also take decades
for man to reverse the effects of global warming. This is
assuming an earnest effort is made to reverse the effects,
which is not a sure thing at this stage. |
Using alternative fuels and particularly those created with renewable
energy such as solar, wind and water sources will help the carbon
cycle to get back in sync. Without these efforts, however, the natural
carbon cycle will continue to erode causing serious climate change
and geographical disruption.
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