Carbon is cycled between the atmosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere through the carbon cycle. Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere through respiration, burning of fossil fuels, and other natural processes. Plants absorb the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it to produce energy through photosynthesis. This carbon is then stored in the biosphere in the form of organic compounds, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. Carbon is also released from the biosphere through respiration and decomposition. The carbon is then returned to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Additionally, carbon can be stored in the lithosphere in the form of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil. When these fuels are burned, the carbon is released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
