Question

How can human activity can affect the carbon cycle.

Answer 1

Human activity can affect the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. When fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas are burned, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere as waste. The clearcutting of forests for lumber and fuel also increases levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere because the trees can no longer remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for photosynthesis. If trees are burned in order to be cleared, the burning processes release even more carbon dioxide into the air.

Answer 2

Human activities have a tremendous impact on the carbon cycle. Burning fossil fuels, changing land use, and using limestone to make concrete all transfer significant quantities of carbon into the atmosphere. This extra carbon dioxide is lowering the ocean's pH, through a process called ocean acidification.