Human activities have disrupted the carbon cycle by
A) burning carbon stored as fossil fuels or biomass, thus increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
B) decreasing the primary productivity of the oceans, resulting in increased atmospheric carbon dioxide.
C) burning methane hydrates to produce electricity.
D) acidifying the ocean, resulting in the release of large amounts of dissolved carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Burning of fossil fuels and biomass releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which disrupts the natural balance of the carbon cycle.

Answer: B
 Decreased primary productivity in the oceans, due to factors such as pollution and climate change, can lead to less carbon dioxide being absorbed by marine organisms and dissolved in seawater. This leads to more carbon dioxide remaining in the atmosphere, disrupting the carbon cycle.

Answer: C
 Burning of methane hydrates to produce electricity can release large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. However, it does not directly disrupt the carbon cycle, as methane is not a major component of the carbon cycle.

Answer: D
 Acidification of the ocean can cause the release of large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, as carbon dioxide is less soluble in acidic water. However, this is a secondary effect of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions and does not directly disrupt the carbon cycle.

Human Activities Have Disrupted the Carbon Cycle by