How Does Human Activity Affect The Carbon Cycle

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Carbon is the backbone of life on Earth. All things are made of Carbon. It is a part of the ocean, air and even rocks. This carbon flows between each reservoir in an exchange called the Carbon Cycle. This cycle will be investigated to show an understanding of its functions and how human activity can severely impact this cycle. (insert hypothesis here).

Human activity, with out proper regulation can lead to imbalance throughout the carbon cycle meaning the interference of a Global system much like the Carbon Cycle. The most prominent human activities that are having an impact on the Carbon Cycle are the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.

The Carbon cycle maintains a balance to regulate the amount of carbon in the Earth’s atmosphere
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For example, technology is now allowing us to record data over long periods of time and compare the two data sets. Take for example a thermo-stat chart. In these data sets, scientists are able to see what is happening currently but also to notice pattern a that may continue on into the future and so that we can act upon it. We have been able to accumulate more data, more accurately, over a longer period of time and across wide areas such as the globe. Accurate Estimates can be made so that the future can be mapped out and potential consequence can be noticed. Because of this scientists have been able to understand the global systems more accurately and see the effects that human practices are having on them more clearly. Because of the increase in technology, our scientific knowledge is of great quality about the global systems and the impacts humans are having on them. This can be used to prevent further harm in the future and properly deal with the …show more content…
Burning fossil fuels such as oil and coal releases carbon into the atmosphere much more rapidly than it is used. Consequently and imbalance has occurred and carbon dioxide concentrations in the air increase. The burning of fossil fuels is the largest contributor to increased atmospheric CO₂. Carbon Dioxide is a greenhouse gas and so with more of it in the atmosphere than needed, the infrared radiation used to help cool the Earth, is absorbed by the greenhouse gases without letting it leave. This results in the increase of the temperature of the Earth, commonly known as Global Warming. Already there has been a 0.6°c increase in global average temperature and warming trend are likely to continue (REFERENCE). The scientific estimate of the global mean temperature is between 1.4 and 5.8°c increase over the next century as a result of increase atmospheric CO₂. With this increase in temperature comes great risk for the future. Including the rise in sea levels. As the ice in Antarctica, the Arctic melts because of the abnormal high Earth temperature, the sea levels begin to rise across the globe. The average sea level is expected to rise between 0.09m and 0.88m). In addition, the rise in sea levels could mean that low-lying and coastal

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