Plants & The Carbon Cycle Plants take in carbon dioxide and convert it to sugar which can be stored until used for energy. This process is called photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis: CO2 + H2O + sunlight yields O2 + C6H12O6
Plants & The Carbon Cycle Plants release carbon dioxide as a waste product when they convert their stored sugar to chemical energy. This process is called respiration.
Respiration: C6H12O6 + O2 yields CO2 + H2O + energy
Animals & The Carbon Cycle Animals eat carbon contained in animal and plant tissues and release carbon dioxide as a waste product. This process is respiration.
Decay & The Carbon Cycle: Decomposers release the carbon from dead plant and animal tissues back into the atmosphere.
Fossil Fuels & The Carbon Cycle: Over millions of years fossil fuels may form from the buried remains of plants and animals.
Fossil Fuels & The Carbon Cycle: This carbon reenters the atmosphere during combustion.
The Oceans & The Carbon Cycle: Dissolved carbon dioxide in sea water becomes deposited as calcium carbonate shells.
The Oceans & The Carbon Cycle: Over millions of years, these shells form sedimentary rock.
Ocean deposits are the biggest sink of carbon on the planet. The Rock Cycle ultimately releases carbon stored in sedimentary rock.