Carbon Cycle

Carbon Cycle
WHAT:
Carbon cycle shows the movement of carbon in elemental and combined states on earth.
Diamond and graphite are the elemental forms of carbon and in combined state, it is found as
carbonates in minerals and as carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere.
Carbon Cycle Definition

Carbon cycle is the process where carbon compounds are interchanged among the
biosphere, geosphere, pedosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the earth.
Carbon Cycle Steps

Following are the major steps involved in the process of the carbon cycle:
1. Carbon present in the atmosphere is absorbed by plants for photosynthesis.

2. These plants are then consumed by animals and carbon gets bioaccumulated into their
bodies.
3. These animals and plants eventually die, and upon decomposing, carbon is released
back into the atmosphere.
4. Some of the carbon that is not released back into the atmosphere eventually become
fossil fuels.
5. These fossil fuels are then used for man-made activities, which pumps more carbon
back into the atmosphere.
Also Read: Biogeochemical Cycles
Carbon Cycle Diagram

The carbon cycle diagram below elaborates the flow of carbon along different paths.
Carbon Cycle diagram showing the flow of carbon, its sources and paths.
Importance of Carbon Cycle

Even though carbon dioxide is found in small traces in the atmosphere, it plays a vital role in
balancing the energy and traps the long-wave radiations from the sun. Therefore, it acts like a
blanket over the planet. If the carbon cycle is disturbed it will result in serious consequences
such as climatic changes and global warming.
Carbon is an integral component of every life form on earth. From proteins and lipids to even
our DNA. Furthermore, all known life on earth is based on carbon. Hence, the carbon cycle,
along with the nitrogen cycle and oxygen cycle, plays a vital role in the existence of life on
earth.
 Carbon cycle explains the movement of carbon between the earth’s biosphere,
geosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.
 Carbon is an important element of life.
 Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is taken up by the green plants and other
photosynthetic organisms and is converted into organic molecules that travel through
the food chain. Carbon atoms are then released as carbon dioxide when organisms
respire.
 The formation of fossil fuels and sedimentary rocks contribute to the carbon cycle for
very long periods.
 The carbon cycle is associated with the availability of other compounds as well.
POLLUTOIN:
How does carbon pollute?
Human activities such as the burning of oil, coal and gas, as well as deforestation are
the primary cause of the increased carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere.
Burning fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse
gas, into the atmosphere. ... Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation
account for about 29 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, making it
the largest contributor of U.S. GHG emissions
Due to carbon cycle CO2 is produced which is very harmful. Also polythene
which is a polymer of carbon destroys our environment. The major impact on
carbon cycle is of the climatic changes like the effect of temperature and the
precipitation.
PREVENTION:
10 tips on reducing your carbon footprint

Now that we’ve got a more detailed understanding of carbon
emissions and climate change, let’s look at some ways to reduce
your carbon footprint. Many of these are simple and convenient
steps you can introduce. However, combined, they can make a big
difference to your impact on the environment.
To make things clearer, we’ve focused on how to reduce your
carbon footprint in several areas of life. Whether at home, work,
school, or while travelling, you can make a difference.
1. Insulate your home
2. Switch to renewables
3. Buy energy efficient
4. Use less water
5. Change your diet
6. Turn off the lights
7. Go digital
8. Cycle to work
9. Reduce, reuse, recycle
10. Eliminate single-use plastic
How to reduce your carbon footprint at school

No matter whether you’re a staff member or a student, you can
bring some positive changes to your school to reduce your carbon
footprint. Here are just a few ideas:
11. Raise awareness
Your school community might not know much about things like
greenhouse gases, carbon footprints, or climate change. You can
change that by raising awareness of these issues. Things like
school projects and fundraising events can help to educate students
and their families about the importance of protecting the
environment. This can help those around you to reduce their
footprints.
12. Compost
Composting is surprisingly good for the environment, particularly

when food waste is such a big issue. By setting up a composting
scheme at your school, you can help to reduce landfill methane
emissions. What’s more, this type of compost is free, doesn’t use
energy to produce, and is good for your school gardens.
13. Switch off computers
An IT lab with rows of idling computers takes up a lot of energy.

You can reduce your school’s energy bills and carbon footprint by
keeping electronic devices turned off and unplugged when they’re
not in use.
14. Use local food
This is a tip that can apply to just about every area of life. Locally-
grown produce takes less energy to transport and supports the
economy where you live. If you can get your school to switch to
local and sustainable food for the kitchen, you can help save the
planet and help local businesses.
15. Take local trips
Sticking with the theme of your surrounding area, try and work
towards field trips that are nearby. Instead of going to far-flung
destinations that require planes, trains, or busses, stick to
something close by. Your emissions will be far lower, and you’ll
contribute to your community.
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE NITROGEN CYCLE?

The nitrogen cycle is a repeating cycle of processes during which nitrogen
moves through both living and non-living things: the atmosphere, soil,
water, plants, animals and bacteria
Microscopic living organisms that usually contain only one cell and are found everywhere.
Bacteria can cause decomposition or breaking down, of organic material in soils.
. In order to move through the different parts of the cycle, nitrogen must change forms. In the
atmosphere, nitrogen exists as a gas (N2), but in the soils it exists as nitrogen oxide, NO, and
nitrogen dioxide, NO2, and when used as a fertilizer, can be found in other forms, such as
ammonia, NH3, which can be processed even further into a different fertilizer, ammonium
nitrate, or NH4NO3.
There are five stages in the nitrogen cycle, fixation or volatilization,
mineralization, nitrification, immobilization, and denitrification.
IMPORTANCE:
NITROGEN IS CRUCIAL FOR LIFE

The cycling of nitrogen through the ecosystem is crucial for maintaining
productive and healthy ecosystems with neither too much nor too little
nitrogen. Plant production and biomass (living material) are limited by the
availability of nitrogen. Understanding how the plant-soil nitrogen cycle
works can help us make better decisions about what crops to grow and
where to grow them, so we have an adequate supply of food. Knowledge of
the nitrogen cycle can also help us reduce pollution caused by adding too
much fertilizer to soils. Certain plants can uptake more nitrogen or other
nutrients, such as phosphorous, another fertilizer, and can even be used as
a “buffer,” or filter, to prevent excessive fertilizer from entering waterways.
For example, a study done by Haycock and Pinay [8] showed that poplar
trees (Populus italica) used as a buffer held on to 99% of the nitrate
entering the underground water flow during winter, while a riverbank zone
covered with a specific grass (Lolium perenne L.) held up to 84% of the
nitrate, preventing it from entering the river.
As you have seen, not enough nitrogen in the soils leaves plants hungry,
while too much of a good thing can be bad: excess nitrogen can poison
plants and even livestock! Pollution of our water sources by surplus
nitrogen and other nutrients is a huge problem, as marine life is being
suffocated from decomposition of dead algae blooms. Farmers and
communities need to work to improve the uptake of added nutrients by
crops and treat animal manure waste properly. We also need to protect the
natural plant buffer zones that can take up nitrogen runoff before it reaches
water bodies. But, our current patterns of clearing trees to build roads and
other construction worsen this problem, because there are fewer plants left
to uptake excess nutrients. We need to do further research to determine
which plant species are best to grow in coastal areas to take up excess
nitrogen. We also need to find other ways to fix or avoid the problem of
excess nitrogen spilling over into aquatic ecosystems. By working toward a
more complete understanding of the nitrogen cycle and other cycles at play
in Earth’s interconnected natural systems, we can better understand how to
better protect Earth’s precious natural resources.
nitrogen pollution
Excess nitrogen in the atmosphere can produce pollutants such as ammonia and
ozone, which can impair our ability to breathe, limit visibility and alter plant growth. When
excess nitrogen comes back to earth from the atmosphere, it can harm the health of forests,
soils and waterways.
What is an example of nitrogen pollution?
The two major sources of nitrogen pollution to the air are fossil fuel combustion
(e.g. vehicle and power plant emissions) and agriculture (e.g. fertilizer and manure
emissions). Once emitted, nitrogen molecules can travel hundreds of miles in the
atmosphere before returning to Earth.
PREVENTION: How can we stop the nitrogen cycle?

It is a continuous cycle that is maintained by the decomposers and nitrogen
bacteria. The nitrogen cycle can be broken down into four types of reaction and
micro-organisms play roles in all of these.
Cover crops are crops that are planted in the fall and cover the soil during the winter.
Cover crops reduce nitrate losses by taking up water and nitrate from the soil
after the main crop is harvested. Those that overwinter can also take up nitrate
before the main crop starts growing in the spring.

Carbon Cycle

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Carbon Cycle

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Carbon Cycle

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Carbon Cycle

Carbon Cycle Definition

Carbon Cycle Steps

1. Carbon present in the atmosphere is absorbed by plants for photosynthesis.

Also Read: Biogeochemical Cycles

Carbon Cycle Diagram

Importance of Carbon Cycle

10 tips on reducing your carbon footprint

1. Insulate your home

3. Buy energy efficient

4. Use less water

5. Change your diet

6. Turn off the lights

9. Reduce, reuse, recycle

10. Eliminate single-use plastic

How to reduce your carbon footprint at school

11. Raise awareness

Composting is surprisingly good for the environment, particularly

13. Switch off computers

An IT lab with rows of idling computers takes up a lot of energy.

14. Use local food

15. Take local trips

WHAT EXACTLY IS THE NITROGEN CYCLE?

NITROGEN IS CRUCIAL FOR LIFE

PREVENTION: How can we stop the nitrogen cycle?

You might also like