what is carbon cycle

Carbon cycle is a biogeochemical cycle (recycle mechanism) by which appropriate levels of carbon concentration is maintained in the environment. 

The key processes involved in carbon cycle are photosynthesis and respiration.

  1. In photosynthesis carbon-dioxide and water produce carbohydrate and oxygen. While respiration oxidize food to give carbon-dioxide and water.

  2. In ocean and in rocks carbon-dioxide dissolves readily in water. In rock it get stored as calcium carbonate.

  3. Carbon can either be liberated to atmosphere through respiration or can be passed to animal when being eaten or remain in plant even after death.

  4. After death of plant or animal decomposition take place and carbon dioxide get released to atmosphere. They can also be buried inside the earth and converted to coal or natural gas . Natural gas and Coal are fuels and on combustion they release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.

  5. Carbon dioxide goes into the oceans and excess of carbon-dioxide can cause global warming.

 

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Carbon is supplied to the biosphere as carbon dioxide during volcanic eruptions. Most of this is dissolved in the sea or incorporated into calcareous sediments which then harden to form limestones and dolomites. As these rocks are folded and raised above sea level, they are subjected to solution by weak carbonic acid and form sediments once more. This is the largest and slowest of the carbon cycles. The shortest cycle involves respiration by plants and animals whereby carbon dioxide is expired, and photosynthesis by plants which change carbon dioxide and water into organic compounds

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