Carbon Cycle Quiz and Flashcards for Mastery

Which hemisphere has more land mass and thus more room for ecosystems to absorb and emit carbon?

How does carbon leave the terrestrial biosphere?

What is the largest pool of actively cycled carbon in the world?

What is the process called when the increase in atmospheric CO2 shifts the pH of the ocean towards neutral?

Which gas contributes more to the global greenhouse effect?

What is the largest active pool of carbon near the surface of the Earth?

What are the main forms of carbon in the Earth's atmosphere?

What are the major reservoirs of carbon in the global carbon cycle?

Which of the following is a major component of the carbon cycle?

Which term is used to describe the long-term processes of carbon storage and release?

What is the distinction between the fast and slow carbon cycle?

Carbon Cycle

The Northern Hemisphere has more land mass and thus more room for ecosystems to absorb and emit carbon.

Carbon Cycle Processes

Carbon leaves the terrestrial biosphere through respiration, decomposition, and disturbance.

Carbon Pools

The largest pool of actively cycled carbon in the world is the ocean.
The largest active pool of carbon near the surface of the Earth is the soil.

Ocean Acidity

The process called when the increase in atmospheric CO2 shifts the pH of the ocean towards neutral is ocean acidification.

Greenhouse Effect

Water vapor contributes more to the global greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide.

Carbon Forms

The main forms of carbon in the Earth's atmosphere are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and carbon monoxide (CO).

Carbon Reservoirs

The major reservoirs of carbon in the global carbon cycle are the atmosphere, oceans, land, and fossil fuels.

Carbon Cycle Components

Photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and fossil fuel combustion are major components of the carbon cycle.

Carbon Storage and Release

The term used to describe the long-term processes of carbon storage and release is carbon sequestration.

Fast and Slow Carbon Cycle

The distinction between the fast and slow carbon cycle is the timescale: the fast carbon cycle operates on a timescale of years to decades, while the slow carbon cycle operates on a timescale of thousands to millions of years.

Test your knowledge of the carbon cycle and its role in Earth's ecosystems. This quiz covers the exchange of carbon among different spheres, its importance in biological compounds, and its presence in minerals. Challenge yourself and see how well you understand this crucial biogeochemical cycle.