The spheres of the earth are the lithosphere, the biosphere, and the atmosphere. Carbon can travel through these spheres by the process of photosynthesis.
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The Carbon Cycle
The Carbon Cycle is the process by which carbon travels through the Earth’s spheres. Carbon moves between the atmosphere, land, and water through a variety of processes. The most important process in the Carbon Cycle is photosynthesis, which is how plants take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and turn it into food.
When animals eat plants, they get some of the carbon that was in the plant. When animals breathe, they release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. When animals die, their bodies decompose and release carbon back into the soil.
The Carbon Cycle is important because it helps keep our planet habitable for life. Without it, there would be too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and our planet would be too hot for many creatures to survive.
The Atmosphere
Carbon enters the atmosphere through both natural and human processes. Natural processes include things like respiration (breathing) and decomposition (the breaking down of organic matter). Human processes include activities like burning fossil fuels, clearing forests, and manufacturing cement.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main type of carbon in the atmosphere. But there are other forms of carbon, too, like methane (CH4) and black carbon (soot). These other forms come from both natural sources and human activities.
The Hydrosphere
The hydrosphere refers to all the water on Earth, including lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater. Water is constantly moving through the hydrosphere in a process called the water cycle.
Evaporation and transpiration are processes that cause water to move from the liquid state to the gas state. Evaporation occurs when water is heated and turns into vapor. Transpiration occurs when plants release water vapor into the air.
Condensation is the process that causes water vapor to turn back into liquid water. Precipitation is any form of moisture, such as rain, snow, or hail, that falls from the atmosphere and onto Earth’s surface.
Runoff is water that flows overland from precipitation or melting snow and ice. Groundwater is water that has seeped down into the ground and is stored in soil or rocks.
The Lithosphere
Carbon is found in the lithosphere, which is the solid outer layer that makes up the Earth’s crust. Carbon enters the lithosphere through weathering and volcanic eruptions. Once in the lithosphere, carbon can be stored for long periods of time.
The Biosphere
The study of carbon movement, or the carbon cycle, is important in understanding how our planet functions. Carbon is found in all three of Earth’s spheres: the geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. It travels between these spheres in what is known as the carbon cycle.
In the geosphere, carbon is found in rocks and fossil fuels such as coal and oil. When these rocks and fossil fuels are used as energy sources, carbon is released into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide gas.
In the hydrosphere, carbon is found in water molecules. When water evaporates, it takes carbon with it and leaves it in the atmosphere in the form of water vapor.
Lastly, in the atmosphere, carbon dioxide gas absorbs heat from the sun and warms Earth’s surface. Plants then use this warmth to convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis. This process not only produces oxygen gas for animals to breathe, but it also sequesters, or stores, carbon from the atmosphere in plant tissue.
