Earth's best friend: Carbon

It is very interesting for me to see how my perceptions change of the biology behind climate change as I learn more about it.

When people talk about greenhouse gases, fossil fuels etc. the connotation to these words is always a negative one. Whereas these same elements are part of the extremely vital and beautifully complicated set up of our planet's natural carbon cycle.

This process is the a backbone example of how fluid and complex is the whole organism of nature on Earth and how powerful as well. Such a primordial and ancient mechanism which has allowed life to sustain on our planet has been so easily corrupted and abused by our species to the point of becoming a generally known "enemy" to us: 'carbon dioxide is evil' this is what we grow up believing.

This thought to say that the world's education should be shifted towards less descriptive and narrative storyline and more educative and aware knowledge. I believe, only in this way will the individuals be able to obtain conscious and enlightened choices towards climate change.

I also guess this is a good first step right?
I will try to explain here at my best what carbon cycle is and how it relates to climate change, for me then to be able to keep sharing my blog with my friends and peers and maybe hope to make a small change in my little circle.

Carbon (C) is a key component of our atmosphere with the ability to be connected to the earth, water, air and organisms. This element is recycled and re-used in different locations/organisms which results therefore into the so called carbon cycle. Most common forms it's found is carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH2).

An example of this cycle, is how the above mentioned gases are absorbed from the atmosphere by plants through photosynthesis. Plants are then eaten by animals, which release carbon as CO2 during cellular respiration or as methane during digestion.

Another situation is where the decayed organisms transform into fossil fuels which is then used by humans in industries for combustion and released back into the atmosphere.

This is where the interesting part come in: carbon is a finite matter according to the law of physics (like all matter actually). Therefore, it cannot be created nor destroyed. For this reason, Earth is donating to us once again an amazing opportunity to be able to exploit this carbon cycle in order to always be able to provide ourselves with the food that we need to sustain without ever worrying about it.

Only if.. climate change is changing this natural cycle and concentrating the form of the carbon only in greenhouse gases, making this beautifully designed mechanism our worst enemy as well as our best friend.

References:

https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/1569-carbon-cycle

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/conservation-matter-during-physical-and-chemical-changes

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/CarbonCycle/page5.php

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