Page 51 - DK Children's Encyclopedia

Carbon cycle SEE ALSO

▸ ▸ Atmosphere p.33
▸ ▸ Climate change
Without the element called carbon, our world would be p.60
frozen and lifeless. Carbon constantly moves between ▸ ▸ Elements p.90
living things, the atmosphere, the oceans, and the Earth ▸ ▸ Fossil fuels p.110

below us. This movement is known as the carbon cycle. ▸ ▸ Gases p.117
▸ ▸ Pollution p.198

Carbon Carbon floats in
the atmosphere as
movement carbon dioxide (CO₂).
Carbon is always
on the move. When
it is in the air, it is CO2 is released into
the atmosphere
combined with oxygen by factories.
to make the gas
carbon dioxide (CO2). Animals
breathe
out CO2.

Plants use sunlight
and CO2 to make
their own food. Plants take
in more CO2 Oceans take
than they in CO2.
give out.

Animals take
in carbon when Carbon from dead
17% they eat plants. sea life is released
other as CO2, or forms
elements Animals release rocks or fossil
CO2 when they fuels such as oil.
die or poo.
18%
carbon
Dead plants
rot or eventually CO2 is released from fossil
65% become fossil fuels whenthey are dug
oxygen fuels such as coal. up and burned.

Keeping the Sun
Carbon in Earth warm
the human body Carbon dioxide in the
Almost one-fifth of the atmosphere acts like a Some sunlight
human body is made of blanket around the Earth, is reflected, and
carbon. After we die, this trapping the sun’s heat. some is trapped
as heat by CO₂.
Without it, the Earth
is returned to the Earth would be very cold.
and naturally recycled. Earth’s
atmosphere

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