Carbon cycle: definition

A carbon cycle is the Earth’s natural way of recreating carbon atoms, which is done when carbon is exchanged within the biosphere, hydrosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, and the Earth’s atmosphere.

The carbon cycle is the natural process through which carbon moves between the atmosphere, land, oceans, and living organisms. It’s one of Earth’s most important systems because carbon is essential for life, and it regulates the planet’s climate.

There are two types of carbon cycles: short and long carbon cycles – of which are broken down below:

• Short-term carbon cycle: In the short-term carbon cycle, biogenic carbon is involved – which refers to the cycle of this type of carbon over the span of several years. This could include the carbon in a forest with both growing or decaying trees. 
• Long-term carbon cycle: In the long-term carbon cycle, fossil carbon is involved – which is where carbon is stored for hundreds of millions of years. This could include examples such as the carbon stored in coal reserves. 

The carbon cycle is important as it helps to maintain a stable climate and ensure carbon is balanced on Earth, both of which are becoming increasingly important as climate change continues to spur out of control. 

Remember, carbon is one of the most pivotal elements on Earth – and if carbon were to be eradicated entirely, the Earth would be frozen. Therefore, the carbon cycle serves as a way to ensure that a balance of carbon is always intact.

FAQ

What would happen without the carbon cycle?

The carbon cycle is the natural process by which carbon moves between the atmosphere, land, oceans, and living organisms. 

If there wasn’t a constant movement of carbon, which is essential to regulate the Earth’s climate, it would become challenging to maintain healthy ecosystems or to support life as a whole. This is because a world without a carbon cycle would result in poorly maintained plant life due to shifting climates, which in turn would threaten biodiversity and human survival.

How do human activities impact the carbon cycle?

Human activities, such as burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and non eco-friendly agricultural practices can have a drastic impact on the natural carbon cycle. Since the start of the Industrial Revolution, humans have been extracting and burning coal, oil, and natural gas at an unprecedented rate – which has resulted in large amounts of unforeseen CO₂ being added to the atmosphere. 

Another example of how human activities impact the carbon cycle include deforestation, as these trees that wouldn’t have otherwise been cut down for urbanization or industrial purposes would’ve absorbed CO₂. Human activities such as this further disrupt the carbon cycle. 

These unnatural human processes, such as deforestation, have created a profound imbalance, as more carbon is being released than Earth’s natural systems can keep up with – resulting in higher concentrations of greenhouse gases, which further exacerbate climate change. 

Seeking to better understand how the carbon cycle works and how paramount it is to all forms of life on Earth could help individuals and collective businesses alike to protect and restore this balance for a more sustainable future.