Process

The Carbon Cycle

Geochemistry

The biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged among Earth's biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. A fast, biological cycle completes within years, while the slow geological cycle moves carbon through the crust between rocks, soil, ocean and atmosphere over millions of years; human land use change and the mining and burning of coal, petroleum and gas have raised atmospheric carbon dioxide nearly 52 percent over pre-industrial levels by 2020, resulting in global warming. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts

Timescale

The fast biological cycle completes within years; the slow geological cycle takes millions of years 1

Driving Force

The exchange of carbon among the atmosphere, ocean, land biosphere and rocks through photosynthesis, respiration, weathering and volcanic outgassing. 1

Resulting Feature

Regulates the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, linking the fast biological cycle to the slow geological cycle of carbonate rock formation and subduction. 1

Significance

Human combustion of fossil carbon has disrupted the natural carbon cycle's balance, driving the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide behind modern climate change. 1

Driving Force

Driving Force (category)

Volcanic / Magmatic 1

Driving Force (category)

Chemical / Weathering 1

Timescale

Timescale (category)

Years to Decades 1

Timescale (category)

Geological (millions of years) 1

The Carbon Cycle

1 entry

Discipline

Ocean Acidification

The Carbon Cycle

FAQs

What is the difference between the fast and slow carbon cycle?

The fast biological cycle acts over years; the slow geological cycle acts over millions of years.

The fast, biological carbon cycle exchanges carbon among the atmosphere, oceans and living things through processes such as photosynthesis and respiration, and completes within years. The slow, geological carbon cycle moves carbon through rocks over millions of years, through weathering, volcanic outgassing and the burial of carbonate rock.

Connections