Question

How do humans affect the carbon cycle?

Answer 1

Hint: In our everyday life, there are various instances which led to the carbon emission in the atmosphere. For example, the burning of fossil fuels in our day to day life. This inturn imbalances the carbon cycle.

Complete answer: Carbon is the chemical backbone of life on earth. Carbon compounds regulate temperature on earth, provide food, energy, fuel and many other important components. Plants require carbon dioxide to prepare their food.
Carbon has its source in rock sediments, oceans, atoms and living organisms. They work as reservoirs of the carbon. Carbon continuously moves from its one source to another. This is referred to as the carbon cycle.
In recent decades, humans have disturbed the balance of the carbon cycle. They have tremendously impacted the consumption of carbon. It began with the rise of the industrial revolution that brought in coal-fueled steam power, and later oil deposits. With increase in transportation and distribution of goods there came increase in consumption of carbon. Burning fossil fuels accelerated the continuous consumption of carbon. This resulted in an increase in greenhouse gases.
In addition, changing land use and deforestation has also impacted the carbon balance. The reckless cutting of trees affects the carbon content in the atmosphere. Moreover, people now use limestone in concrete. The increased consumption has transferred the carbon into the atmosphere. This has resulted in the augmentation of carbon concentration. With very trees left to balance it out. Ocean absorbs carbon emitted from fossil fuels. But the increased emission has lowered the ocean pH level, called ocean acidification. This in turn has interfered with the ability of marine organisms.
Thus, humans with their various activities have increased the carbon level in the atmosphere disturbing the carbon cycle. And therefore, green investment and sharing best practices and technologies to reduce carbon emission is the need of the hour.

Note: There are various measures being taken to reduce the carbon emission in the atmosphere. One such initiative is the European Green Deal launched by European Union with the objective of reducing greenhouse gas emission by 55% by 2030.