Question
How does carbon move from the biosphere to the atmosphere?(2 points)
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Carbon moves from the biosphere to the atmosphere primarily through two processes:
1. **Respiration**: Organisms, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, undergo cellular respiration to convert organic matter (like carbohydrates) into energy. During this process, they release carbon dioxide (CO2) as a byproduct, which then enters the atmosphere.
2. **Decomposition**: When living organisms die, decomposers like bacteria and fungi break down their organic matter. This decomposition process also releases carbon stored in the biomass back into the atmosphere as CO2 or methane (CH4), depending on the conditions, such as the presence of oxygen.
These processes collectively contribute to the cycling of carbon between the biosphere and atmosphere.
1. **Respiration**: Organisms, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, undergo cellular respiration to convert organic matter (like carbohydrates) into energy. During this process, they release carbon dioxide (CO2) as a byproduct, which then enters the atmosphere.
2. **Decomposition**: When living organisms die, decomposers like bacteria and fungi break down their organic matter. This decomposition process also releases carbon stored in the biomass back into the atmosphere as CO2 or methane (CH4), depending on the conditions, such as the presence of oxygen.
These processes collectively contribute to the cycling of carbon between the biosphere and atmosphere.