Carbon cycle
Article
The carbon cycle is the movement of carbon among the atmosphere, oceans, living organisms, soils, rocks, and sediments. Carbon is exchanged through processes including photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, combustion, weathering, ocean circulation, and volcanic activity.
Plants and other photosynthetic organisms remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and incorporate carbon into organic matter. Respiration and decomposition return much of this carbon to the atmosphere or water, while some is stored in soils, sediments, fossil fuels, and carbonate rocks.
The oceans absorb and release carbon dioxide and contain large quantities of dissolved inorganic carbon. Biological production, sinking particles, mixing, and deep-ocean circulation transfer carbon between surface waters and long-term reservoirs.
Human activities have altered the carbon cycle by burning fossil fuels, producing cement, and changing land use. These activities add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere faster than natural sinks remove it, affecting climate, ocean chemistry, and ecosystems.
Source details and credits
- Source / publisher: Wikipedia
- URL type: WWW
- Credits: Wikipedia
- URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_cycle