carbon cycle
KAR-bon SY-kul
ˈkɑːrbən ˈsaɪkəlListen
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Dictionary meaning
the biogeochemical cycle by which carbon atoms continuously travel through the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms; carbon is exchanged between these reservoirs through processes including photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, ocean absorption, volcanic outgassing, and fossil fuel combustion; human disruption of the carbon cycle through the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation has increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations from approximately 280 parts per million before industrialisation to over 420 parts per million today
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