The Carbon Cycle

The carbon cycle describes how carbon moves between Earth's atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms. This fundamental process regulates atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations and directly influences global climate patterns.

Key Components of the Carbon Cycle

• Photosynthesis - Plants in forests like the Amazon absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere and convert it into organic compounds
• Respiration - Organisms release CO₂ back into the atmosphere through metabolic processes
• Decomposition - Bacteria and fungi break down dead organic matter, releasing stored carbon
• Fossilization - Over millions of years, organic material transforms into coal, oil, and natural gas deposits
• Combustion - Burning fossil fuels releases carbon stored for millennia back into the atmosphere

Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier (1768-1830), a French mathematician at the École Normale in Paris, first theorized in 1824 that Earth's atmosphere traps heat like a greenhouse. His work laid the foundation for understanding how increased atmospheric CO₂ affects global temperatures.

Since industrialization began around 1750, atmospheric CO₂ concentrations have increased by approximately 50 percent, rising from 280 parts per million to over 420 parts per million by 2023. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for documenting carbon cycle disruptions and their climate consequences.

Reference:

Wikipedia reference

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_Cycle