How does carbon circulate and move across spheres? Why does carbon cause global warming? And why does coastal ecosystem matter? We need to talk about balance.

What is Carbon and why is it important?
Carbon is a chemical element found in the basic structure of all living things on earth. This element has a very important role and is needed by living things, such as in the process of forming food for plant growth. 20% of the human body is made up of carbon! In this modern era, carbon is an important element that helps us to cover hundreds or even thousands of kilometers in a short time. This is because carbon is one of the elements that are present in fossil fuels.

Where does Carbon come from?
Like the question "which came first, the egg or the chicken?", the origin of carbon is not clear. But through the carbon cycle on earth, we can find out how the process of carbon transfer. The carbon cycle is the process of carbon transfer between four-carbon reservoirs which include the biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. We assume that in these four reservoirs, carbon is absorbed, accommodated, and released forming a displacement cycle. The transfer process is assisted by a path such as a bridge as a link between the four reservoirs. At each reservoir, carbon will be absorbed, stored, and released.

Why do these Carbons have to be stored and moved?
The carbon cycle that occurs is a natural process by the Earth. In addition, the carbon cycle has the benefit of maintaining the balance of the amount of carbon in the four-carbon reservoirs. Excessive amounts in any of the reservoirs can disrupt the entire cycle and earth conditions. It is like a bucket filled with water, if it continues to be filled, the water will spill and cause flooding. Flooding can cause damage to electronics and weathering of wooden furniture in your home.

Likewise, excess carbon, especially in the form of CO2 (carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere can cause an increase in the Earth's surface temperature or what we often hear as Global Warming.

How can the Carbon Cycle on the coast be a solution to Global Warming?

Briefly, the carbon cycle is described in the image above, where on the coast there is vegetation that is able to absorb and release carbon dioxide. The process that occurs when carbon is absorbed from the atmosphere by vegetation through the process of photosynthesis is called sequestration. Then the carbon will be released through the process of respiration and
decomposition by vegetation. The respiration process that occurs in vegetation is the same as the human respiration process, namely by inhaling O (oxygen) and releasing CO2 (carbon dioxide). The decomposition process is the process of decay when the vegetation dies, the remaining carbon will be stored in the roots, twigs, and leaves of the vegetation.
In the book Coastal Blue Carbon (Howard et al.), it is mentioned that Mangrove ecosystems have the highest carbon stock value between Seagrass Meadows and Tidal Salt Marshes. The value of a carbon stock indicates the ability of an ecosystem to store carbon and convert it into soil organic carbon (SOC) that is stored in the soil for thousands of years in the ground. The more carbon stored in the soil, the more it will reduce excessive amount of carbon in the atmosphere and help solve the problem of global warming.

5 Reasons Why We Need to Maintain the Carbon Cycle Through the Mangrove Ecosystem

1. It has a carbon stock value of 386 Mg/ha with a range between 55 to 1375 Mg/ha. Larger than other coastal ecosystems. It would be even better if coupled with various other coastal ecosystems.
2. Mangroves are known to have the ability to absorb carbon up to 10 times the carbon pollution per hectare than rainforests. The right and big solution to mitigating climate change due to global warming!
3. According to National Geographic Indonesia, Mangroves are homes that protect more than 3,000 species of fish! And one of them is funny Mudskipper fish… 😀
4. In addition, mangroves play an important role in mitigating coastal disasters. Because it can withstand the waves caused by storms at sea.
5. Contributing to the management of the Mangrove ecosystem will help reduce the impact of Global Warming.

2022
Irna Fitria Anjelina

References

Siklus Karbon, id.wikipedia.org, January 3, 2020, https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siklus_karbon, (accessed on July 10, 2022)

Ekosistem Pesisir dan Perannya Melawan Karbon, wanaswara.com, October 23, 2020, https://wanaswara.com/ekosistem-pesisir-dan-perannya-melawan-karbon/, (accessed on July 10, 2022)

Potensi Karbon Biru (Blue Carbon) di Perairan Indonesia, national-oceanographic.com, February 4 2021, http://www.national-oceanographic.com/article/potensi-karbon-biru-blue-carbon-di-perairan-indonesia, (accessed on July 10, 2022)

Peran Blue Carbon dalam Upaya Mitigasi Perubahan Iklim, ditjenppi.menlhk.go.id, 2017, http://ditjenppi.menlhk.go.id/kcpi/index.php/inovasi/354-peran-blue-carbon-dalam-upaya-mitigasi-perubahan-iklim (accessed on July 12, 2022)

Mudskipper, en.wikipedia.org, June 3, 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mudskipper (accessed on July 12, 2022)