Question

Persuasive explanation of why the carbon cycle is so important to our planet.

Answer 1

Wow, that is a very big question. What have you got down so far? or would you just like some ideas?

You could perhaps start of by talking about how we breathe O2 and release CO2, then talk about what happens to that CO2 and how it stops the planet becoming 'filled with CO2'. However the options for your question are limitless.

Answer 2

yea...really not much else to say except what trance nova said. Humans breathe in O2, and exhale CO2, which is then inhaled by plants and then plants "exhale" O2

Answer 3

@mumaniac, oh there is much more to the carbon cycle than respiration. It also depends on if you want to think long term or short term. Respiration, soil carbon and carbon stored in water (I'm probably forgetting plenty) are all short term carbon. Long term carbon includes geology, the weathering of rocks produces CO2 etc. don't have time to go over it now though..

Answer 4

All living things that we know of are made up of carbon.

Answer 5

Don't forget the inorganic carbon :)

Answer 6

The carbon cycle is so important because it has a major influence on our climate. The concentrations of CO2 and CH4 can change the temperature of the planet via the greenhouse effect. High concentrations of theses gases lead to higher temperatures as we can measure it in our century. Lower concentrations lead to lower temperatures. With temperatures I mean the global average temperature. There is more behind the carbon cycle but there are tons of good hompages in the net.