Did you know that we breathe the same air that there was from the start of the earth? The reason why is all because of the Carbon Cycle. It keeps us alive, it makes us breathe and keeps life functioning.
Carbon is an element (scientifically known as Carbon Dioxide or CO2). Like Hydrogen and Oxygen. When you inhale the air around you are also breathing in Oxygen while you are breathing in the Carbon, which you are exhaling afterwards. Carbon follows a cycle that is called the Carbon Cycle. This keeps plants alive and helps us live our lives to the fullest.
The cycle all begins when either a plant or any other living thing dies and starts decomposing. Otherwise it will start from trees or plant life that are burning. Lastly it will be from a life form of some sort breathing in air. This is releasing carbon into the air.
The next stage of this cycle is when the Carbon is emitted into the atmosphere. Meaning that it will float around. Soon after it will be either absorbed into the water were it will dissolve at the bottom of the sea, or otherwise it will be absorbed inside a plant. The way this is happening is from the plants going through an important stage for its life called photosynthesis. This is where it takes in; sunlight, water, minerals in the soil and other things it needs to grow to its full height and survive.
Finally last stage of this cycle is when the Carbon is set free from a plant that has fallen or been burnt. Therefore all the Carbon will be extracted from the plant and at that stage the cycle starts all over again.
This process can go on from anywhere between days, months or even years. If we ever needed a new planet you will need the Carbon cycle or else life in its self couldn’t exist there.
By Tom.w and Oscar.M
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