The circulation of carbon atoms in the biosphere is a result of photosynthesis and other natural processes. Carbon dioxide is used by other organisms: the carbon returns to the atmosphere as a result of respiration, decay by fungi, bacteria and burning of fossil fuels.

Human impact on the carbon cycle. Humans burn fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, increasing carbon dioxide. Humans use oxygen in the process of respiration and breathe out carbon dioxide as excess waste. The average person, through the natural process of breathing, produces approximately 2.3 pounds (1 kg) of carbon dioxide per day. Humans contribute to deforestation, which decreases the amount of trees and since plants use carbon dioxide, this increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the air.

Non-human impact on the Carbon Cycle Carbon dioxide is used by plants in their natural photosynthetic processes to produce food. There is a limited storage capacity of carbon dioxide in the ocean. Therefore, over millions of years it settles to the bottom of the ocean floor in the form of limestone. Some of the carbon dissolved in the ocean goes directly back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide gas. Carbon dioxide is naturally carried off back to oceans through rivers ad lands masses.

Plant and animal matter is slowly buried into land floor. All this matter eventually decays into limestone, coal, gas and oil. The acidity levels of the oceans are rising due to an increase in the carbon dioxide levels. As a result, many animal species are dying off. Since animals produce carbon dioxide during respiration, less carbon dioxide is produced. ion2.html

Trivia 1. The movement of the various forms of carbon in the environment is described by – A. the Kreb's cycle. B. the carbon cycle C. the Calvin cycle. D. the carbon exchange cycle.

2. Plants and animals use and digest carbon in natural processes that degrade the carbon and use it for their own purposes such as food. True False

3. Humans breathe out excess carbon as waste. True False

4. Carbon dioxide is one of the main naturally occurring greenhouse gases that is a current factor in global warming. True False

5. Carbon was discovered by _______ A. Christopher Columbus B. The Jonas Brothers C. It was discovered millions of years ago. D. Kanye West

The Carbon Cycle By: Jason Chu, Georgie Uzunova, Jack Sun, Herman Wu, Steven Wu, William Lem, and Brian Sirotnikov.