File:Carbon cycle.jpg

Summary

In Earth’s carbon cycle, photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. Respiration from plants and soil microbes and the decomposition of biological material returns CO2 to the atmosphere, as do human activities, mainly from burning fossil fuels. Oceans absorb and release carbon primarily via diffusion across the air–ocean interface. Phytoplankton photosynthesis converts CO2 into organic carbon that is largely returned to ocean water as CO2 via microbial respiration and decomposition. A small amount of organic carbon sinks to the ocean floor. (Courtesy of the Department of Energy Office of Science.)

Copyright status:

This image is public domain because it was first published by the U.S. Department of Energy (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

Source:

https://str.llnl.gov/Dec10/bench.html