Blue Carbon
Blue carbon is the term for carbon captured by the world's ocean and coastal ecosystems. Sea grasses, mangroves, salt marshes, and other systems along our coast are very efficient in storing CO2. These areas also absorb and store carbon at a much faster rate than other areas, such as forests, and can continue to do so for millions of years. The carbon found in coastal soil is often thousands of years old. When these systems are damaged or disrupted by human activity, an enormous amount of carbon is emitted back into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
Carbon is the foundation of all life on Earth, required to form complex molecules like proteins and DNA. This element is also found in our atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon helps to regulate the Earth’s temperature, makes all life possible, is a key ingredient in the food that sustains us, and provides a major source of the energy to fuel our global economy.
The carbon cycle describes the process in which carbon atoms continually travel from the atmosphere to the Earth and then back into the atmosphere. Since our planet and its atmosphere form a closed environment, the amount of carbon in this system does not change. Where the carbon is located — in the atmosphere or on Earth — is constantly in flux.
On Earth, most carbon is stored in rocks and sediments, while the rest is located in the ocean, atmosphere, and in living organisms. These are the reservoirs, or sinks, through which carbon cycles.
Carbon is released back into the atmosphere when organisms die, volcanoes erupt, fires blaze, fossil fuels are burned, and through a variety of other mechanisms.
In the case of the ocean, carbon is continually exchanged between the ocean’s surface waters and the atmosphere, or is stored for long periods of time in the ocean depths.
Humans play a major role in the carbon cycle through activities such as the burning of fossil fuels or land development. As a result, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is rapidly rising; it is already considerably greater than at any time in the last 3.6 million years.
Video Transcript
What is the carbon cycle? Carbon is the chemical backbone of all life on Earth. All of the carbon we currently have on Earth is the same amount we have always had. When new life is formed, carbon forms key molecules like protein and DNA. It's also found in our atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide or CO2. The carbon cycle is nature's way of reusing carbon atoms, which travel from the atmosphere into organisms in the Earth and then back into the atmosphere over and over again. Most carbon is stored in rocks and sediments, while the rest is stored in the ocean, atmosphere, and living organisms. These are the reservoirs, or sinks, through which carbon cycles. The ocean is a giant carbon sink that absorbs carbon. Marine organisms from marsh plants to fish, from seaweed to birds, also produce carbon through living and dying. Over millions of years, dead organisms can become fossil fuels. When humans burn these fuels for energy, vast amounts of carbon dioxide are released back into the atmosphere. This excess carbon dioxide changes our climate — increasing global temperatures, causing ocean acidification, and disrupting the planet’s ecosystems.
FAQs
The carbon cycle describes how carbon moves between the atmosphere, soils, living creatures, the ocean, and human sources. The carbon cycle is the process that moves carbon between plants, animals, and microbes; minerals in the earth; and the atmosphere. Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe.
What is the carbon cycle simple summary? ›
When new life is formed, carbon forms key molecules like protein and DNA. It's also found in our atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide or CO2. The carbon cycle is nature's way of reusing carbon atoms, which travel from the atmosphere into organisms in the Earth and then back into the atmosphere over and over again.
What is the carbon cycle in a short sentence? ›
Carbon moves from the atmosphere to the land, ocean, and life through biological, chemical, geological and physical processes in a cycle called the carbon cycle. Because some carbon gases are greenhouse gases, changes in the carbon cycle that put more carbon in the atmosphere also warm Earth's climate.
What is carbon cycle in short term? ›
The short carbon cycle involves the movement of carbon (C) atoms over a relatively short period of time. This is the movement of CO2 taken up from the air by living organisms such as plants or bacteria. These organisms convert the CO2 into glucose through photosynthesis.
What is the carbon cycle simple for kids? ›
The carbon cycle is a process where carbon dioxide travels from the atmosphere into living organisms and the Earth, then back into the atmosphere. Plants take carbon dioxide from the air along with water and photosynthesis from the sun and use it to make food.
What is the short explanation of carbon? ›
Carbon (from Latin carbo 'coal') is a chemical element; it has symbol C and atomic number 6. It is nonmetallic and tetravalent—meaning that its atoms are able to form up to four covalent bonds due to its valence shell exhibiting 4 electrons. It belongs to group 14 of the periodic table.
What is the carbon cycle key definitions? ›
carbon cycle process (flux) causes carbon to move from one reservoir to another; examples are photosynthesis, respiration and combustion. carbon reservoir. a place in the Earth System where carbon is stored; examples include organisms, bodies of water, soil, rock, atmosphere, and fossil fuels. carbon sink.
What are the 4 steps of the carbon cycle explain? ›
Photosynthesis, Decomposition, Respiration and Combustion. Carbon cycles from the atmosphere into plants and living things. For example, carbon is a pollutant in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. But it's also the most important building block for all living things including glucose.
What is carbon in one sentence? ›
Carbon is a chemical element that diamonds and coal are made up of.
Where is the carbon cycle? ›
Most of Earth's carbon is stored in rocks and sediments. The rest is located in the ocean, atmosphere, and in living organisms. These are the reservoirs through which carbon cycles. Carbon dioxide concentrations are rising mostly because of the fossil fuels that people are burning for energy.
Each section of the wing is built in carbon fibre. We would also be spewing far more carbon into the atmosphere. This burial of organic carbon allowed the release of oxygen into the environment.
What is carbon for short? ›
chemical element. Also known as: C. Written and fact-checked by. Last Updated: Aug 23, 2024 • Article History. carbon (C), nonmetallic chemical element in Group 14 (IVa) of the periodic table.
What is the fast carbon cycle? ›
The fast carbon cycle moves carbon much faster. Instead of 100 to 200 million years, the fast carbon cycle happens over years or decades. The increased speed is because the fast carbon cycle moves carbon through living things.
What is meant by carbon short answer? ›
1. a. : a nonmetallic chemical element with atomic number 6 that readily forms compounds with many other elements and is a constituent of organic compounds in all known living tissues.
