The Carbon Cycle
Introduction
The carbon cycle is the transformation and circulation of carbon back and forth between living things and the environment. Carbon is an element, something that cannot be broken down into a simpler substance.
Random Facts!!!
Carbon is the 2nd most common element in the human body.
It is the 6th most common element in the universe.
And the 17th most common element in the earth's crust.
The Carbon Cycle
All living things are made of carbon. Carbon is also a part of the ocean, air, and rocks. Because the Earth constantly changing, carbon doesn't like to stay still. It is always moving.
In the atmosphere, carbon is attached to oxygen in a gas called carbon dioxide.
Plants need carbon dioxide and sunlight to grow. The carbon soon becomes part of the plant. When plants die they are buried and decaying plant matter is compressed for millions of years until it turns into fossil fuels. These fossil fuels are things like coal and oil. When humans burn fossil fuels, most of the carbon is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. Without it and other greenhouse gases, Earth would be frozen, however humans have burned so much fuel that there is about 30% more carbon dioxide in the air now than there was around 150 years ago. With more carbon dioxide in the air Earth is becoming a warmer place. Today there is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than there has been in the last 420,000 years!
The carbon cycle is the transformation and circulation of carbon back and forth between living things and the environment. Carbon is an element, something that cannot be broken down into a simpler substance.
Random Facts!!!
Carbon is the 2nd most common element in the human body.
It is the 6th most common element in the universe.
And the 17th most common element in the earth's crust.
The Carbon Cycle
All living things are made of carbon. Carbon is also a part of the ocean, air, and rocks. Because the Earth constantly changing, carbon doesn't like to stay still. It is always moving.
In the atmosphere, carbon is attached to oxygen in a gas called carbon dioxide.
Plants need carbon dioxide and sunlight to grow. The carbon soon becomes part of the plant. When plants die they are buried and decaying plant matter is compressed for millions of years until it turns into fossil fuels. These fossil fuels are things like coal and oil. When humans burn fossil fuels, most of the carbon is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. Without it and other greenhouse gases, Earth would be frozen, however humans have burned so much fuel that there is about 30% more carbon dioxide in the air now than there was around 150 years ago. With more carbon dioxide in the air Earth is becoming a warmer place. Today there is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than there has been in the last 420,000 years!