Release agents

Everyday, you eat, sleep, laugh, and learn. What are these actions called? Of course, they're called release agents! Release agents are everywhere! They can be volcanic activity, forest fires, and human movements. Before we get any further, let's understand what release agents are. We all know that there is a carbon cycle, and the cycle consists carbon sources, carbon sinks, and release agents. The carbon sources are the ones which start it, the sinks are the ones which tell us where the carbon will likely be released, which means the release agents must be the last part of the cycle. These release agents are the workers which trigger the carbon sources. An example of a carbon source, is jump roping. In order, to jump rope we have to jump up and down, and swing the rope at the same time. We have to get the correct rhythm in order to jump over the rope successfully. These motions that you are doing are all human activity. In other words, they are release agents.

We know jumping rope is a release agent, but how about making tiny moves? Do they count as a release agent? Of course. One example is make a heart with you hands. You have to move and form both hands into a heart shape in order to do it, which means it is also part of human activity. As you can see, even little motions like making a peace sign, or even smiling are actually release agents.

carbon sinks

Hmm.... one day your teacher leaves science homework for you. It tells you to list three carbon sinks, but since you didn't pay attention in class, you have no idea what to do. Asking the teacher was definitely not an option, so you check it up on Google. Immediately, it tells you the definition or carbon sinks which is matter that has come from a recently living matter, such as things like limestone, shells, plastic, and long living trees.
They are the opposite of sources, which is like weathering of limestone, and other respiration of living organisms. Instead of releasing carbon, it absorbs carbon. For example, the trees are the best example. as we all know trees are the ones who are always making the oxygen we breath in clean and fresh, but without the carbon dioxide which helps it become healthy, the tree will not

survive, therefore we will not either.
Granite, is another carbon sink. As we all know crystals form by heat and pressure, but within that heat and pressure also lies carbon dioxide which helps the crystals grow. The crystals suck up the carbon, and gradually the crystal begins to cool down and become solid as time passes by.
The last example, of a carbon sink is plastic, one of the most common things we use everyday. Now why does plastic need carbon dioxide? The answer is simple. Plastic is made up with elements of carbon dioxide, oxygen, sulfur, chlorine, and many others. After you've seen three examples of what carbon sinks are, you should have a better idea of what they do and what kinds of things can count as an carbon sink. Sometimes, it's just hard to believe that something so simple, for example, a ziploc bag, actually needs carbon in order to be made.

Carbon Sources

All living organisms have carbon. Without carbon, nothing will survive, because its THAT important. Carbon source are mostly bad things that people do.

1. An example that would show this would be "deforestation." By hearing just the name, it tells you alot. This is when people are cutting down a whole buncch of trees, maybe a whole forest. Another way forests can be "deforestation" is by wildfires or any other fire. The fire can easily spread through the whole area, leaving only what is left. Most people tear down the forests to build roads, clear land for farming, and building territory.

2. Another example would be the burning of fossil fuels. Coal, oil, and gas are all fossil fuels. Oil and gas are regularly, yet coal has to be crush down to small pieces to be burnt. After the gasoline is burnt, it is shipped to gas station. There, people use the gasoline for energy in there cars or other transportation.

3. The last example of carbon source could be people breathing. Of course, breathing is very important. Without breathing, we won't be able to live. We need oxygen we inhale to use for any system that relates to the lungs. Eventually, without breathing in oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide, we won't be able to live.

How is Carbon Sources Harmful?

1. The deforestation leads to humans not having the chance to survive. That's because trees are very important to the carbon cycle. Not only do they give us oxygen to breathe, yet they use the carbon dioxide we exhale to store all the necessaties needed for a tree. When the forest is gone, the carbon is let out as carbon dioxide. Too much carbon dioxide will lead to global warming.

2. Another way carbon sources is bad is because of the burning of fossil fuels. When the fossil fuels are burnt, the carbon dioxide rises into the air, with the air we breathe with. Then, eventually the carbon dioxide causes pollution, which is not good for the environment.

What's the difference between a food chain and a food web?

Food chains are the connection of hte energy between organisms. The specific order of a food chain would be the energy source (the sun), a producer, a primary consumer, a secondary consumer, and a decomposer. Food chains are simple, yet food webs are interconnections of a food chain, meaning that more connections are connected onto a food chain leading to what eats what.

What's the difference between a food web and a food chain?

Food chains are the connection of the energy between organisms. The specific order of a food chain is the energy source (sun), a producer, a primary consumer, and a secondary consumer. Yet a food web is the interconnection of the food chain, meaning that more connections are connected onto a food chain leading to what eats what.