The movement of carbon through the abiotic and biotic parts of the carbon cycle is the following:
In the carbon cycle, carbon is moved between the four reservoirs where it is in different states:
- Atmosphere, carbon is in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2) by joining with oxygen in the form of gas.
- Terrestrial biosphere, carbon is found in the elements that make up terrestrial and coastal ecosystems, in non-living organic matter, and in the soil.
- Oceans, carbon is part of the hydrosphere, it is found in dissolved organic carbon, in marine organisms and in non-living matter.
The water vapor produced and released into the atmosphere also promotes gas exchange between the atmosphere and the ocean, allowing carbon to dissolve in the water, where it is fixed by photosynthetic plankton.
- Sediments: carbon is part of the geosphere, the excess carbon in decomposing organic matter, which is not captured and processed by decomposing life forms, it will pile up and sediment at the bottom of the oceans or in the various layers of the earth's crust, where it forms fossils, hydrocarbon deposits or reactive sediments.
During photosynthesis, green plants take CO2 from the abiotic environment and incorporate the carbon into the carbohydrates they synthesize.
Part of these carbohydrates are metabolized by the same producers in their respiration, returning carbon to the surrounding environment in the form of CO2.
That is, the return of CO2 to the atmosphere occurs when living beings oxidize food while breathing, producing CO2.
The final products of combustion are CO2 and water vapor.
Therefore, we can conclude that the movement of carbon between the abiotic environment and biotic factors (living organisms) defines the carbon cycle.
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