Carbon Cycle

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What is the carbon cycle?

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The carbon cycle is the process by which carbon is exchanged among the atmosphere, land, water, and living organisms. It involves processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion.

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What are fossil fuels?

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Fossil fuels are natural substances formed from the remains of dead plants and animals that have been subjected to intense heat and pressure over millions of years. Examples include coal, oil, and natural gas.

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What role does photosynthesis play in the carbon cycle?

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Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, effectively removing carbon from the atmosphere.

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What is the significance of water's high heat capacity?

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Water's high heat capacity means it can absorb and store large amounts of heat without a significant change in temperature, which helps regulate climate and maintain stable environments for living organisms.

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What is negative feedback in ecological systems?

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Negative feedback is a process that counteracts changes in a system, helping to maintain stability. For example, if a population grows too large, resources become scarce, leading to a decrease in population.

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What is the law of conservation of mass?

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The law of conservation of mass states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system. In the context of the carbon cycle, this means the total amount of carbon remains constant, even as it moves between different pools.

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How do human activities affect the carbon cycle?

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Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, disrupting the natural balance of the carbon cycle.

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What is respiration in the context of the carbon cycle?

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Respiration is the process by which living organisms convert oxygen and glucose into energy, producing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts, thus returning carbon to the atmosphere.

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What is decomposition?

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Decomposition is the process by which dead organic matter is broken down by microorganisms, returning carbon to the soil and atmosphere, and recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

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What are carbon pools?

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Carbon pools are reservoirs of carbon in different forms, such as the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms. Each pool has a different capacity to store carbon.