Biogeochemical Cycle Part 3// Carbon Cycle

 

CARBON CYCLE

The cyclic process in which carbon is circulated continuously through the living and non-living components of the biosphere is called carbon cycle.

Carbon cycle is the biogeochemical cycle in which carbon is circulated continuously in various form through nature.

Carbon is found in many forms on the earth. In its elemental form it occurs as diamond and graphite.

Carbon is also found as carbonate and hydrogen carbonate salts in various minerals and as carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere.

Carbon is a basic constituent of all life forms.

The main steps involved in the process of the carbon cycle are-

·        Carbon is present in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide is used by plants for photosynthesis.

·        When animals eat the plant and carbon gets bioaccumulated into their bodies.

·        These animals and plants die, their bodies are decomposed by decomposers and carbon dioxide released back into the atmosphere.

·        Process of combustion also adds to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Some of the dead plants and animals get buried deep under the earth and changes into fossil fuels. These fuels are burned then carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.

·        Some carbon dioxide is present in the dissolved state in water and gets converted into calcium carbonate in limestone and other carbonate rocks. Weathering of carbonate containing rock gives carbon dioxide.

·        Volcanic eruption and hot spring also release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

So there is a continuous exchange of carbon dioxide between atmosphere, water bodies and living occurs in the biosphere.


Carbon Cycle

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