The two major processes that drive the normal functioning of the carbon cycle are photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Photosynthesis is the metabolic pathway that takes raw materials and converts it to sugar. Photosynthesis takes place in the leaves, specifically in the chloroplasts of the cells of plants. Photosynthesis also occurs in plants, green protista, and prokaryotes. There are two phases in photosynthesis, the light dependent and the light independent reactions. Cellular respiration is the metabolic pathway that converts sugars (carbohydrates) to carbon dioxide and water. All organisms utilize sugars to make energy (ATP). For humans, carbon dioxide is released as a direct product of cellular respiration and that carbon dioxide can be recycled immediately by
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For example, burning coal, oil, natural gas, and other fossil fuels for industrial activity and power generation removes the carbon from the fossil fuels and emits it as CO2 into the atmosphere. In addition to fossil fuels, humans have also affected the carbon cycle negatively by land use and deforestation. Since large amounts of carbon are stored in living plants, the clearance of forests densely inhabited by plants can greatly impact the carbon cycle since humans are removing those plants that would normally be capturing carbon from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Also, there is a decrease in carbon storage because forests are being replaced by crops, pasture land, and buildings as smaller plants (and worse still, concrete) store far less carbon than large trees. This lack of storage causes more carbon to be stored within the atmosphere rather than being recycled, causing the planet to steadily warm up. Deforestation is a global problem that must be addressed, not only because of its relationship to climate change but also because of its pollution and clean air
For example, burning coal, oil, natural gas, and other fossil fuels for industrial activity and power generation removes the carbon from the fossil fuels and emits it as CO2 into the atmosphere. In addition to fossil fuels, humans have also affected the carbon cycle negatively by land use and deforestation. Since large amounts of carbon are stored in living plants, the clearance of forests densely inhabited by plants can greatly impact the carbon cycle since humans are removing those plants that would normally be capturing carbon from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Also, there is a decrease in carbon storage because forests are being replaced by crops, pasture land, and buildings as smaller plants (and worse still, concrete) store far less carbon than large trees. This lack of storage causes more carbon to be stored within the atmosphere rather than being recycled, causing the planet to steadily warm up. Deforestation is a global problem that must be addressed, not only because of its relationship to climate change but also because of its pollution and clean air