In Terms of Life on Earth, Which Cycle Changes are More Significant: Water or Carbon? - Akshaya
Both the carbon and the hydrological cycle are vital to life on earth and are essential for the processes on the planet. Waterways support many species and thus increase biodiversity, as well as being an excellent store for carbon. Carbon is also necessary for life, as it is needed for photosynthesis. Both cycles interlink significantly and constantly affect each other. Carbon is integral for life, and is formed as carbon based molecules in various forms; carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere, organic matter in the pedosphere, in carbon rich rocks, and in vegetation. Carbon is the basis of all life and is part of all the main molecules that form organisms (such as proteins, nucleotides, etc.), thus highlighting how carbon is necessary in all aspects of life on earth. Water covers 69% of the world’s surface area, therefore it’s presence and the state of it greatly effects global systems. During colder periods of time, when much of the world is covered in ice such as dur...