The Carbon Cycle

The-Carbon-Cycle-0.mp3
The-Carbon-Cycle-0.mp4
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The-Carbon-Cycle-00.mp4
The-Carbon-Cycle-I.mp3
The-Carbon-Cycle-I.mp4
The-Carbon-Cycle-II.mp3
The-Carbon-Cycle-II.mp4
The-Carbon-Cycle-intro.mp3

[Verse 1]
Chemical weathering
(Carbon sequestration)
Survival tethering
(Man’s frustration)

[Chorus]
The carbon cycle
(Consumption’s radical)
The more we make
… the more we take

[Verse 2]
Carbonate weathering
(CO₂ recycling)
Survival tethering
(Breathing’s stifling)

[Chorus]
The carbon cycle
(Consumption’s radical)
The more we make
… the more we take

[Bridge]
Reach for the ocean
(In perpetual motion)
Into the sea
(More permanently)
Doing quite well
(Turned into a shell)

[Chorus]
The carbon cycle
(Consumption’s radical)
The more we make
… the more we take

[Outro]
The more we make
… the more we take
(Is it time we live to give?)

A SCIENCE NOTE

Rocks play a crucial role in the carbon cycle, influencing how carbon moves between the atmosphere, oceans, and Earth’s crust over long timescales. The two main ways rocks interact with carbon are weathering and sedimentation, as well as volcanic activity.

1. Chemical Weathering (Carbon Sequestration)

Certain rocks, especially silicates and carbonates, pull CO₂ out of the atmosphere through chemical reactions. This process happens when rainwater (which absorbs CO₂ to form weak carbonic acid) reacts with minerals in rocks.

• Silicate Weathering (Long-Term CO₂ Removal)

  • Rocks like basalt and granite contain silicate minerals (e.g., feldspar, olivine).

  • When these minerals break down, they react with CO₂ and water, forming dissolved bicarbonates.

  • These bicarbonates eventually wash into rivers and oceans, where they contribute to carbonate rock formation (e.g., limestone).

  Reaction Example:

  CaSiO3+2CO2+H2O→Ca2++2HCO3−+SiO2\text{CaSiO}_3 + 2CO_2 + H_2O → \text{Ca}^{2+} + 2HCO_3^- + \text{SiO}_2CaSiO3​+2CO2​+H2​O→Ca2++2HCO3−​+SiO2​

  (Calcium silicate reacts with CO₂ and water to form dissolved calcium, bicarbonate, and silica.)

• Carbonate Weathering (CO₂ Recycling)

  • Limestone (CaCO₃) and dolomite (CaMg(CO₃)₂) are carbonate rocks that store vast amounts of carbon.

  • When these rocks dissolve in acidic water, they release CO₂ back into the atmosphere.

  Reaction Example:

  CaCO3+CO2+H2O→Ca2++2HCO3−\text{CaCO}_3 + CO_2 + H_2O → \text{Ca}^{2+} + 2HCO_3^-CaCO3​+CO2​+H2​O→Ca2++2HCO3−​

  (Limestone dissolves, releasing CO₂ into water, which can later be re-released into the atmosphere.)

2. Sedimentation and Carbon Storage

Once weathered minerals and bicarbonates reach the ocean, marine organisms like coral, shellfish, and plankton use the dissolved calcium and bicarbonate to build their shells and skeletons (CaCO₃).

• Over time, these shells accumulate on the ocean floor, forming limestone and other carbonate rocks, which can store carbon for millions of years.

3. Subduction & Volcanic Outgassing (CO₂ Release)

Carbon stored in sedimentary rocks can return to the atmosphere through plate tectonics.

• When tectonic plates subduct (sink) beneath one another, carbonate rocks are dragged into Earth’s mantle.

• The heat and pressure cause these rocks to break down, releasing CO₂.

• This CO₂ is then emitted into the atmosphere through volcanic eruptions.

  Reaction Example:

  CaCO3→CaO+CO2\text{CaCO}_3 → \text{CaO} + CO_2CaCO3​→CaO+CO2​

  (Limestone decomposes under heat, releasing CO₂.)

4. Human Influence on the Carbon Cycle

Human activities have disrupted the natural carbon cycle by:

• Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), which releases ancient, stored carbon into the air.

• Mining and land use changes, which expose more rock to weathering, altering natural CO₂ exchange.

• Geoengineering proposals, such as enhanced weathering, suggest spreading crushed silicate rocks (like olivine) on land or in oceans to accelerate CO₂ removal.

Summary of Rock-Carbon Interactions

From the album “Rocked“

The Human Induced Climate Change Experiment