Question

active cycling of carbon sustains life on earth. it regulates climate, supports soil fertility, helps maintain an optimal ocean chemistry, and replenishes essential carbon compounds that organisms need to survive. describe how carbon moves between earths spheres in each scenario. carbon moves from the biosphere to the geosphere. carbon moves from the geosphere to the atmosphere. carbon moves from the atmosphere to the hydrosphere. carbon moves from the atmosphere to the biosphere. carbon dioxide gas in the air is absorbed by plants and used to make carbohydrates. a volcano erupts, releasing volcanic ash and carbon dioxide gas into the air. carbon dioxide gas in the air dissolves into ocean water, forming carbonic acid, which rapidly breaks down into ions. the remains of dead plants get buried underground. over millions of years, heat and pressure transform them into coal, a type of fossil fuel.

Explanation:

1. When carbon - dioxide in air is absorbed by plants to make carbohydrates, carbon moves from the atmosphere to the biosphere as plants are part of the biosphere and they take in atmospheric carbon - dioxide for photosynthesis.
2. During a volcanic eruption releasing carbon - dioxide into the air, carbon moves from the geosphere (volcanoes are part of the geosphere) to the atmosphere.
3. When carbon - dioxide in air dissolves into ocean water, carbon moves from the atmosphere to the hydrosphere (ocean water is part of the hydrosphere).
4. When the remains of dead plants are buried and transformed into coal, carbon moves from the biosphere (dead plants were part of the biosphere) to the geosphere (coal is a geosphere component).

Answer:

1. Carbon moves from the atmosphere to the biosphere.
2. Carbon moves from the geosphere to the atmosphere.
3. Carbon moves from the atmosphere to the hydrosphere.
4. Carbon moves from the biosphere to the geosphere.