Science Common Sense
889 - What is the carbon cycle, and how does it work?
The carbon cycle is like a big circle that carbon goes through in our environment. It's made up of three main parts:
The Atmosphere: Carbon is released into the air as a gas called carbon dioxide (CO2). This happens when we breathe, burn fossil fuels, and cut down trees.
The Earth: Plants absorb CO2 from the air and use sunlight to turn it into food through photosynthesis. They store some of the carbon in their leaves, stems, and roots, and release some back into the air as oxygen.
The Oceans: Oceans absorb CO2 from the air, too. This helps keep the amount of CO2 in balance.
Carbon keeps moving through this cycle, and it's essential for life on Earth. Without the carbon cycle, our planet wouldn't be able to support plants, animals, and humans.