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What is the carbon cycle?

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Quick answer

The carbon cycle is the continuous movement of carbon through the air, oceans, living things, and rocks. Plants take in carbon dioxide, animals release it, and natural and human processes shift it between these reservoirs. Carbon moves between the atmosphere, life, oceans, and the ground.

Key things to understand

  1. Carbon moves between the atmosphere, life, oceans, and the ground.
  2. Plants absorb CO₂ via photosynthesis; respiration and decay release it.
  3. Oceans absorb and release large amounts of carbon.
  4. Burning fossil fuels adds extra CO₂, driving climate change.

People also ask

How does the carbon cycle work?
Carbon flows between air, living things, oceans, and rocks through photosynthesis, respiration, decay, and combustion.
How do humans affect the carbon cycle?
Burning fossil fuels and deforestation release stored carbon, raising atmospheric CO₂.
Why is the carbon cycle important?
It regulates Earth's climate; disrupting it with extra CO₂ drives global warming.