Carbon Cycle – Carbon is the main or basic constituent of living organisms and is the most essential constituent of all the major organic compounds of the living substances such as proteins, nucleic acid, fats, and carbohydrates. Carbon is transferred through the food chain in the form of several organic compounds. Atmospheric carbon dioxide serves as the source of carbon for the synthesis of organic compounds in green plants. The atmosphere of Earth is the reservoir of gaseous carbon, which is in the form of carbon dioxide while oceans are the main depositors of biological carbon. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is around 0.33 percent.
Carbon dioxide is the main source of carbon for the living organisms. Most of the carbon dioxide enters the living world through the process of photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide returns to the atmosphere through respiration of plants and animals, decay of dead bodies of plants and animals, and combustion of fossil fuels. Thus, a carbon is also known as carbon dioxide cycle, which is operating in biosphere. As a result, the proportion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere remains almost the same.
Main steps of carbon cycle in nature – As such the carbon cycle works as given below-
- The various processes, which removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
- Photosynthesis by green plants
- Plants die and are buried may turn into fossil fuels made of carbon such as coal and oil over millions of years.
- Photosynthesis process occurs in water also. The carbon dioxide is utilized for photosynthesis by aquatic plants. Some of the dissolved carbon dioxide is also trapped to form limestone and other carbonate rocks.
- The various processes, which put back carbon dioxide into the atmosphere are given below –
- Respiration of plants and animals.
- Decomposition of dead organisms.
- Burning of fossil fuels
- Volcanic eruptions
The carbon cycle in nature is a perfect cycle on the sense that carbon dioxide is returned to the environment almost as fast as it is removed.
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