The amount of carbon on the earth,including the atmosphere,
A)is essentially constant.
B)is decreasing due to consumption of carbon based fuels, such as coal and petroleum.
C)is increasing due to plant and animal growth on the planet.
D)fluctuates dramatically with the seasons.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The amount of carbon on Earth, including the atmosphere, is essentially constant due to the carbon cycle, which involves movement of carbon between different reservoirs, such as the atmosphere, oceans, and land. While human activities such as burning fossil fuels can temporarily increase the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, natural processes such as photosynthesis and respiration help maintain a relatively stable amount of carbon on Earth over long periods of time.

The Amount of Carbon on the Earth,including the Atmosphere