Question

The long-term and short-term carbon cycles are connected by the fact that some of the carbon contained in C6H12O6 (or other organic molecules) in plants is incorporated into sedimentary rocks or oil; carbon in sedimentary rock and oil is not immediately cycled back to the atmosphere.
a. True
b. False

Answer 1

Answer:

False

Explanation:

• The carbon cycle is a process which involves the flow of carbon through all of living things and life forms on Earth. The carbon cycle span over two segments: long-term and short-term, allowing for regulation of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

• While the short term segment deals with Earth forms that are more 'fleeting' like water nd air, the long-term affects the rock which take centuries to process through completely.

• In the short-term reservoir, carbon is stored in the atmosphere, oceans and biosphere with the ocean containing the largest amount of carbon.  The biggest player and regulator of atmospheric carbon however is the ocean, not the biosphere. It is what links the long-term segment reserves to the short-term because carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and converted to fossil fuels and rocks which are components of the long-term reserves.

I hope this explanation was clear and comprehensive.