The Role of Carbon

Carbon is an important element. It is not only found in minerals, such as diamonds, but also in the tissue of living organisms. Carbon atoms are the main component of all organic compounds, including sugars, starches, fats, proteins and coal.

Carbon compounds give us energy (food), keeps us warm (wood and coal), and power vehicles and industry (oil petrol and natural gases).

The Role of Carbon Dioxide

Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it with sunlight, water and soil minerals to produce energy-rich organic compounds, such as carbohydrates. This process is known as photosynthesis.

Too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere however has a negative effect on the environment. Carbon dioxide traps heat in the earth’s atmosphere, making life on earth possible, but if there is too much carbon dioxide, an imbalance is created resulting in a greenhouse effect, which leads to global warming.

Click here to view a video that explains what carbon dioxide is.

The over-production of carbon dioxide that causes this imbalance is the result of the burning of fuel, such as coal. At the same time, vast tracts of vegetation are being destroyed due to deforestation, affecting the rate of photosynthesis. This means that while we are producing more and more carbon dioxide, there are fewer and fewer plants that are able to absorb and use it.

The earth is becoming warmer and the global climate is changing. In South Africa, some areas are becoming hotter and drier, while other areas experience more frequent and extreme floods.

The Role of Carbon Sinkholes

Carbon Sinkholes - Carbon sinkholes are where carbon is stored after being returned to plants and soil through photosynthesis.

Click here to view a video that explains what a carbon sinkhole is

Click here to view a video that explains how a farm in Mexico uses carbon farming.

Farmers are key players in creating carbon sinkholes. Grasslands are a temporary carbon sinkhole because the carbon is lost when the grass is burnt and carbon dioxide is released. Forest and fruit trees grow slowly and store organic carbon for many years.

Soil is the ultimate carbon sinkhole. About 60% of organic carbon occurs in soil. Soil enriched with organic matter is a stable carbon sinkhole because carbon is stored for long periods of time.

Remember:

• Renewable natural resources are resources that nature reproduces constantly, while non-renewable natural resources are resources that cannot be reproduced or are reproduced over many years.
• Biotic natural resources are alive, such as plants and animals, while abiotic natural resources are not alive, such as water and air.
• Waste is what is left over once resources have been used to create energy.
• Pollution is the over-production of waste that the environment cannot deal with naturally.
• Acid rain and global warming are deadly consequences of pollution.
• Reusing means using a waste product for another purpose, while recycling means reprocessing waste products to produce other products.
• Energy is the ability to work and is produced from using resources. There are two forms of energy, is working and stored energy.
• Traditional energy sources use stored energy from non-renewable resources, such as the burning of fossil fuels.
• Alternative energy sources aim to use renewable resources and include solar energy, wind energy, water energy, nuclear energy and biodiesel.
• Carbon is the building block of life as most living organisms are made up mostly of carbon atoms.
• Carbon dioxide is produced through amongst others the burning of fuel and used by plants during photosynthesis.
• Higher production of carbon dioxide and reduction in plants causes an imbalance that causes a greenhouse effect and leads to global warming.
• Carbon sinkholes are where carbon is stored, mostly in organic form in plants and in soil.

Click here to view or download a handout that explains smart energy farming.