carbon cycle
Planetary element exchange
The carbon cycle is the continuous movement of carbon through Earth's systems—atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms.
Plants absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis; animals release it through respiration; decomposition returns it to soil and air.
Human burning of fossil fuels has disrupted this balance by releasing carbon stored underground for millions of years, accelerating climate change.
Light-to-sugar conversion in plants
- respirationGas exchange in organisms
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- autotrophsSelf-nourishing organisms
heterotrophs · biomass · organic matter · cellular respiration · zooplankton · detritivores · bacteria · fungi
Atmospheric heat retention mechanism
- global warmingRising planetary temperatures
- CO2 emissionsReleased greenhouse gases
- fossil fuelsCombustible prehistoric organic deposits
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
methane · ocean acidification · deforestation · afforestation · feedback loops · emissions trading · Paris Agreement · Kyoto Protocol
Particles settling in liquid
- limestoneCarbonate sedimentary rock
- fossil fuelsCombustible prehistoric organic deposits
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- petroleumNatural underground hydrocarbon liquid
Light-harvesting plant pigment
- chloroplastsPhotosynthesis-performing cell structures
- stomataMicroscopic plant pores
photosynthesis
Light-to-sugar conversion in plants
- respirationGas exchange in organisms
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
autotrophs · heterotrophs · biomass · organic matter · cellular respiration · zooplankton · detritivores · bacteria · fungi · algae
greenhouse effect
Atmospheric heat retention mechanism
- global warmingRising planetary temperatures
- CO2 emissionsReleased greenhouse gases
- fossil fuelsCombustible prehistoric organic deposits
climate change · methane · ocean acidification · deforestation · afforestation · feedback loops · emissions trading · Paris Agreement · Kyoto Protocol · IPCC
sedimentation
Particles settling in liquid
- limestoneCarbonate sedimentary rock
- fossil fuelsCombustible prehistoric organic deposits
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
petroleum · geologic time · oceanic crust · long-term storage
upwelling
Deep water rising surfaceward
chlorophyll
Light-harvesting plant pigment
- chloroplastsPhotosynthesis-performing cell structures
- stomataMicroscopic plant pores
- Earth cycles
- geochemistryisotope geochemistry, biogeochemistry, trace element, trace elements, isotopes
- ecology modelsfood web, food chain, energy flow, carrying capacity, energy pyramid
- connectionslink, links, connect, connection, tie
- environmentair pollution, ecology, clean air, biosphere, air quality
- Carbongraphite, diamond, diamonds, graphene, fullerene
carbon cycledeforestation
Large-scale woodland elimination
carbon sequestration · carbon emissions · carbon sink · ocean acidification · decarbonization
cycle, carbon, cycling, cycles, carbonated, carbonation, carbonate, carbonic, hydrocarbon