Earth's carbon cycle
Carbon moves through biological, oceanic, atmospheric and geological reservoirs.
Key knowledge
Carbon cycles among the atmosphere, organisms, soils, oceans and rocks. Biological processes such as photosynthesis, respiration and decomposition exchange carbon, while weathering, sediment formation and tectonic processes participate in slower geological transfers.
Conditions and scope
- The fast/slow distinction describes contrasting processes and time scales, not two isolated systems.
- A natural cycle does not imply that emissions are automatically balanced or that reservoir amounts remain unchanged.
Sources · 2
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
NASA's documented fast/slow carbon-cycle account; no global flux values or local carbon budget are reproduced.
2026-10-10 · English reservoir and process scope checked against The Carbon Cycle; dated numerical rates and projections are excluded.
Foundational review
2026-10-10 · Fresh primary-source inspection of the complete compact record, including every statement, equation, quantity and material condition, followed by independent AI editorial review. This check does not certify all linked lessons or every passage of every cited publication.
Sources from other places
Agreement within this scope
Biological reservoirs, respiration/photosynthesis and geological transfers.
Fast biological exchanges and slow geological transfers connect.
British Geological Survey
- The carbon story United KingdomEnglish
The carbon cycle; Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere
- The carbon story
Entry details
Permanent link to this entry ↗- Record identity
- earth-carbon-cycle
- Revision
- core.1
- Structured reference record
- Essential core · first collection