Archive for August, 2008
The Carbon Cycle
Thursday, August 28th, 2008
For as long as there has been life on Earth, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been rising and falling.
Volcanoes and forest fires emit carbon dioxide, too, just like we do when we burn fossil fuels. However, Mother Nature has a system for managing these carbon dioxide emissions and eventually removing the excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
How does she do it? The answer may surprise you! A recent study highlighted in Science Daily shows that natural carbon dioxide emissions are managed through a complex feedback system that depends, in a large part, on molluscs.
Yes, that’s right… molluscs.
Snails, clams, oysters, scallops and other marine life on the half shell actually play a significant role in trapping carbon dioxide and locking it away. Basically, whenever carbon dioxide levels rise, silica-based minerals such quartz, feldspar, and mica begin to break down at a faster than usual rate.
The breakdown of silicates produces calcium, which is carried to the sea by rivers and streams. Then, molluscs take the calcium and mix it with carbon dioxide to form shells of calcium carbonate. The end result? The mollusc has a snazzy home, and a little bit of carbon dioxide has been removed from the atmosphere for good! (more…)
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