The carbon cycle

The carbon cycle is the term for the flow of carbon between the atmosphere, land, ocean and biosphere. Increasing knowledge of the carbon cycle is important for the study of climate change. Human activities are releasing increased amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, causing the atmosphere to heat up. Around half of this surplus carbon dioxide is then taken up in carbon 'sinks' on the land and sea surface, mitigating the extent of global warming - at least for now. Carbon modellers seek to better understand the carbon 'flux' between the surface and atmosphere within the carbon cycle.