Final answer:
The mining and use of fossil fuels disrupts the carbon cycle by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming. This is exacerbated by deforestation and animal husbandry practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mining and use of fossil fuels by humans has disrupted the carbon cycle. Fossil fuels contain carbon that, when burned, releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. This CO2 acts as a greenhouse gas, trapping heat within the atmosphere and contributing to global warming or climate change. The carbon from fossil fuels, which is not typically part of the short-term carbon cycle, enters the atmosphere faster than it can be absorbed by photosynthesis in plants and other organisms. This leads to an increase in atmospheric CO2 levels, which is further exacerbated by deforestation and other human activities like animal husbandry.
Humans also affect other biogeochemical cycles, such as the nitrogen cycle, through practices like the use of synthetic fertilizers and industrial processes. This has significant impacts on ecosystem structure and function, and understanding these cycles is critical for protecting the environment from irreversible damage due to human activities.