What Is the Carbon Cycle? Process And Importance

Carbon is one of the most abundant elements to exist in nature. It’s a constituent of most of the things on Earth, from our DNA to the air we breathe in. But, do you know the amount of carbon we have today is the same as at the time of Earth’s formation? Yes! The amount has been constant over the years. But how come it doesn’t change?

Don’t worry! We are here to address all the queries. Read the blog to explore the mysteries of nature about how the amount of carbon has been constant over the years and how it is automatically restored by nature.

What is the Carbon Cycle?

So, the key to constant carbon amount is the carbon cycle. As evident from its name, it’s a cyclic process that involves a series of different steps that repeat itself to create a loop. This complicated process, which takes decades to complete, ensures a balance of carbon in the atmosphere.

Carbon Reservoirs

Before we dig into understanding the carbon cycle, it’s important to understand carbon sinks or carbon reservoirs.

Any place, organism or simply any matter that stores carbon in it is a carbon sink or carbon reservoir. For example, fossil fuels, rocks, sediments, human bodies, atmosphere are carbon reservoirs/sinks.

Process of Carbon Cycle

The carbon cycle involves the circulation of carbon from one carbon sink to another in Earth’s atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere to create a balance. The circulation occurs as a result of multiple processes like photosynthesis, evaporation, combustion or respiration, etc.

The carbon cycle is not a single cycle but consists of multiple cyclic processes occurring over time. Some cycles may take thousands to millions of years to complete, i.e. fossil formation, often termed as slow carbon cycles/long-term carbon cycles. At the same time, other cycles include fast carbon recycling in a short period, i.e. months or years, like through respiration, photosynthesis, combustion, etc. These are called fast carbon cycles/short-term carbon cycles.

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Here, we have tried to explain the carbon cycle most simply and comprehensively as possible:

Carbon Cycle on Land

Carbon is available in the form of CO2 in the atmosphere.
The CO2 is absorbed by plants, algae, and other photosynthetic organisms where it undergoes a complex photosynthetic process and is converted into carbohydrates.

CO2 + H2O + energy → C6H12O6 +O2

The carbohydrates made by producers are consumed by consumers, i.e. animals, humans, and other organisms.
The consumers then release most of the carbon in the form of CO2 during respiration.

(CH2O) n +O2 → CO2 + H2O

Some portion of the carbon also becomes part of the body.

As the organisms die, the body is decomposed into its constituent elements returning the carbon to the soil.
The carbon is deposited in the form of fossils over the years, which are then burned for domestic and industrial purposes. The combustion releases CO2 into the atmosphere, which is used by producers; hence, the cycle repeats.

Carbon Cycle in Oceans

Marine animals take carbon from the atmosphere and convert it into reserves of carbon, like calcium carbonate.
On the death of these organisms, they settle on the ocean floors and start decomposing.
Over time, the calcium carbonate slowly turns into limestone due to the immense pressure of waves.
On exposure to air, the limestone rocks undergo reactions to release CO2 back into the atmosphere.

Imbalance in Carbon Cycle

Nature had the strategic planning to ensure a balanced amount of carbon in its reservoirs. However, due to several human activities, the balance has been disturbed. As we trace the history, we can find the causes of the imbalance of the carbon cycle. The most important era in this regard was the time of the Industrial Revolution in Britain, which created a surge of industrialisation.

To meet the demands of expanding industrial needs, more and more fossil fuels were being used, emitting carbon in the form of CO2 in the atmosphere. As a result, today, the atmosphere is saturated with carbon that has crossed its natural limit in the atmosphere.

Why is the Carbon Cycle Important to Sustain Life?

Imagine what will happen if there are no fossil fuels left on the Earth? More than half of the industrial and agricultural operations would stop immediately! The carbon cycle is essential for fossil formations, which is one of the major energy sources on the Earth today.

Moreover, carbon, in natural quantities, plays a crucial role in maintaining the Earth’s temperature by trapping radiations from the sun. Hence, the importance of the carbon cycle is undeniable. However, with an increasingly fast-paced industry, the use of fossil fuels has increased tremendously, increasing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere and warming up the Earth’s crust due to the greenhouse effect.

The disturbed carbon cycle is leading to severe environmental issues like global warming, drought, floods, threats to biodiversity and more. Therefore, it is the need of the hour to switch to more sustainable energy resources and restore the balance of carbon.

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