Environmental Science

The Carbon cycle is defined as the movement or exchange of the carbon gas in the terrestrial biosphere, geosphere, pedosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere on the earth’s surface. In essence, this cycle is vital for man’s existence as it allows for the movement of the gas for reuse by plants and other matter and reducing it ability to become harmful to the environment. This process is vital as it enables the release of gases such as oxygen by the plants for the actual survival of animals and other living organisms. In addition, it also supplies plants with the gaseous exchange for the production of food and the eventual coexistence and survival of man and animals (Archer, 23).

In this process of gaseous exchange, there are various gas stores or sinks where the gaseous exchange takes place. Plants usually require this gas for survival during photosynthesis. Sea or water plants also absorb carbon dioxide, which is absorbed first by the water and later by the plants for the photosynthesis. Another vital process where the gaseous exchange takes place is through the industrial processes, domestic activities such as cooking, and movement of automobiles. This processes release the gas into the atmosphere. In addition, other human activities such as deforestation and agriculture also contribute to increase in the gas in the atmosphere or the environment (Archer, 33).

Human activities such as automobile driving, production, and deforestation have and are still contributing significantly to the increase in levels of carbon dioxide into the environment. Environmentalists indicate the human activities have resulted in the increase in the oceanic sink for carbon while decreasing the atmospheric sink with the activities, which increase the carbon gas in the environment. The ocean is responsible for absorption of the largest amounts of carbon dioxide give the surface areas of all the water surfaces in the world. In addition, the sea has also increased in surface area due to global warming.

In addition, global warming is the eventual warming up of the environment all of which can be attributed to the greenhouse effect. In addition, global warming could also be attributed to the gradual but rapid depletion. In addition, the green house effect is all attributed to the erosion of the ozone layer, which acts as a protection towards entry of hot and dangerous sunlight rays. Increase in gases such as carbon dioxide and other industrial gases and from machines results in concentration of heat inside the earth’s atmosphere. Such buildup of heat results in eventual climate changes and melting of ice find at polar points of the earth (Wigley, & David, 45).

Furthermore, man also contributes to the increase in carbon dioxide with fossil burning such as evidenced by the vehicle and machine emissions. This contributes greatly to the concentration of carbon and other harmful gases in the earth’s atmosphere. A fossil such as charcoal, which is widely used for cooking in poor countries, contributes significantly to emission of harmful carbon into the atmosphere.

In addition, farming activities also contribute to the increase of carbon dioxide into the environment. Such is evidenced by the use of manure and fertilizers with the aim of increasing productivity of the soil and increase crop yields. Such is driven by man’s need to make money. Hence when man engages in farming the decay of manure or fertilizer results in the release of carbon form the soil or the dead matter before it actually becomes part of the soil. In addition, the simple act of weeding results in dead plant matter such as weeds, which also decay to release carbon and form manure to the soil.

In conclusion, with the current rates, the world is bound to get warmer and the oceans sand other water bodies strained in order to absorb the atmospheric carbon released from man’s activities, which are also in the increase coup0led, by the increase in populations around the world (Wigley, & David, 23).

Work Cited

Archer, David. The Global Carbon Cycle. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2010. Print.

Wigley, T M. L, & David S. Schimel. The Carbon Cycle. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Print.