The Carbon Cycle

The Carbon Cycle

Plants

• Plants respire. They take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere all the time. This contributes to the carbon cycle.

Animals

• Animals (herbivores) eat the plants and other animals and so they take the carbon from them. They also respire and so, like the plants, release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Bacteria and Fungi

• When animals and plants die they get decomposed by bacteria and fungi. These microorganisms respire as they do this, releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This is also how carbon goes into the ground

Fossilisation

• When the animals have been decomposed and the carbon has been released back into the atmoshere and into the gound it fossilises deeper underground.

Combustion

• The fossilised remains of the animal will then over a long period of time turn into fossil fuels (e.g. oil, coal, natural gas). People dig up these fossil fuels and burn them - combustion - for energy. Combustion releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

The Cycle

• All the carbon released afer being used will be used againand go around again in the cycle.