Time to Review the Carbon Cycle
If people want to affect "climate change," they should plant trees.
With all the focus lately about climate change I thought it would be a good idea to review the carbon cycle. A key thing to note is that carbon is a key component of all living things (read that again). Carbon can be stored in a variety of reservoirs, including plants and animals, which is why they are considered carbon life forms.
The carbon cycle is a biogeochemical cycle through which carbon moves among the biosphere, geosphere, pedosphere, hydrosphere, and earth’s atmosphere.
Carbon Cycle Steps
Plants absorb carbon from the atmosphere in order to perform photosynthesis.
Animals eat these plants, and carbon is bioaccumulated in their bodies.
Carbon is released back into the atmosphere when these animals and plants die and disintegrate.
Carbon that is not re-emitted into the atmosphere gets transformed into fossil fuels in some cases.
These fossil fuels are subsequently used in man-made activities, which contribute more carbon to the atmosphere.
Notice in the diagram above there are two arrows that direct carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Let’s focus on the land side of the diagram and the arrow labeled “photosynthesis”.
What is Photosynthesis?
The conversion of sunlight, carbon dioxide (CO2), and water into food (sugars) and oxygen are known as photosynthesis. This process is seen in plants, algae, and some microorganisms. Light is the main important factor in the photosynthesis process.
Source: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/photosynthesis/
By absorbing the CO2 produced by all breathing species and replenishing the atmosphere with oxygen, oxygenic photosynthesis acts as a counterweight to respiration. Carbon dioxide directly affects the rate of photosynthesis. If the concentration of CO2 is low then the photosynthesis rate also decreases.
Life on earth would not be possible without carbon.
The Role of the Oceans
The ocean stores approximately 50 times more actively cycled carbon than the atmosphere, making it the largest carbon reservoir. In addition, carbon is rapidly exchanged between the ocean and the atmosphere in order to maintain equilibrium. In fact, oceans absorb more carbon than they emit from an ecological standpoint. As a result, it’s known as a “carbon sink.” This means that changes to atmospheric carbon levels can be buffered by the ocean: it will release CO2 if atmospheric levels drop, or dissolve CO2 from the atmosphere if levels increase.
We MUST care for our oceans.
If you Want to Affect Climate Change, PLANT TREES
The powers that be would have people believe that purchasing electric vehicles is the answer to affecting climate change. I don’t see electric vehicles on that diagram anywhere in terms of removing carbon from the atmosphere. If any of you do see electric vehicles in the carbon cycle, please point it out to me.
Growing up I recall being told that deforestation was the main human action having an impact on global warming. Removing trees is a affecting the carbon cycle at a rate of 10-20%.
Instead of spending $40K or more buying an electric vehicle, invest that money in planting trees and bushes. Photosynthesis is the primary way to remove carbon from the atmosphere and keep things cool.
Thank you for this nice writeup! But you do have "burning fossil fuels" in your diagram where the electric vehicles come in, somewhat reducing that output. At least at the end tail - many says it's overall impact considering the full life cycle of electric batteries and charging is actually negative, but I am no expert. I just wanted to point out that in theory electric vehicles do impact the carbon cycle, and surely AGW believers would pounce on that.
Thank you again!
Basic biology there. I am gobsmacked dumbfounded by the idiots and stupid people