How the The Carbon Cycle Works

The carbon cycle is one of the most vital of all the atmospheric cycles. During the carbon cycle, carbon moves from vast reservoirs, such as the ocean and atmosphere, through organisms and ecosystems. Carbon enters the atmosphere every second. It does this by cells engaging in aerobic respiration, as fossil fuels burn, and as volcanos erupt. The world's oceans hold most of the carbon in a dissolved form. Most atmospheric carbon is in the form of carbon dioxide. The average time that an ecosystem holds any carbon atom varies greatly. In the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, for example, decomposers cannot break down organic compounds, so carbon slowly accumulates into peat. Whether from the consumption of fossil fuels or from air pollution, carbon is not being recycled properly.

for the Carbon Cycle Diagram