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The carbon cycle is a biogeochemical cycle that is important in maintaining life on Earth over a long time span. The cycle includes carbon sequestration and carbon sinks. [4] [5] Plate tectonics are needed for life over a long time span, and carbon-based life is important in the plate tectonics process. [6]
Biological carbon fixation, or сarbon assimilation, is the process by which living organisms convert inorganic carbon (particularly carbon dioxide, CO 2) to organic compounds. These organic compounds are then used to store energy and as structures for other biomolecules .
About 500 gigatons of carbon are stored above ground in plants and other living organisms, [8] while soil holds approximately 1,500 gigatons of carbon. [20] Most carbon in the terrestrial biosphere is organic carbon, [ 21 ] while about a third of soil carbon is stored in inorganic forms, such as calcium carbonate . [ 22 ]
Interconnection between carbon, hydrogen and oxygen cycle in metabolism of photosynthesizing plants. The carbon cycle is an essential part of life on Earth. About half the dry weight of most living organisms is carbon. [citation needed] It plays an important role in the structure, biochemistry, and nutrition of all living cells.
Carbon in the ocean precipitates to the ocean floor where it can form sedimentary rock and be subducted into the Earth's mantle. Mountain building processes result in the return of this geologic carbon to the Earth's surface. There the rocks are weathered and carbon is returned to the atmosphere by degassing and to the ocean by
It is the operation in which the organisms within a specified ecosystem use the process of respiration to convert organic carbon to carbon dioxide. While the amount of respiration is varied upon the type of ecosystem and the community abundance, the mechanism occurs in both aquatic and terrestrial environments.
Biological Importance 5: Essential for all (or most) living things. 4: Essential for some living things. 3: Not essential, but has a pharmacologic role; helps to treat disease in some organisms. 2: Benign: present in some organisms, sometimes bioaccumulating, but generally having no apparent effects (except possible harmful effects, notes "a ...
Carbon occurs in all known organic life and is the basis of organic chemistry. When united with hydrogen, it forms various hydrocarbons that are important to industry as refrigerants, lubricants, solvents, as chemical feedstock for the manufacture of plastics and petrochemicals, and as fossil fuels.