Is all of Earths carbon dioxide supply being constantly used by organisms?
No, some is stored in earth's only carbon sink, the atmosphere.
Yes, and it briefly passes through the atmosphere as it cycles between organisms.
yes, and it is used up as soon as it is formed.
no, some is stored in earths carbon sinks, such as the oceans.
No, some is stored in earth's carbon sinks, such as the oceans.
The correct answer is: No, some is stored in Earth's carbon sinks, such as the oceans.
To arrive at this answer, we need to understand a few key concepts. First, Earth's carbon dioxide (CO2) supply is constantly being exchanged between various sources and sinks. Sources include human activities such as burning fossil fuels, volcanic eruptions, and natural processes like respiration by organisms. On the other hand, sinks are places where CO2 is stored for a significant period of time, preventing it from quickly re-entering the atmosphere.
One of the main carbon sinks is the atmosphere itself, which briefly holds CO2 before it is absorbed by other sinks. However, it doesn't mean that all of Earth's CO2 supply is constantly used by organisms. Some of it remains stored in the carbon sinks. One important carbon sink is the oceans, where CO2 dissolves and forms carbonic acid, resulting in ocean acidification. Other carbon sinks include plants and vegetation, soil, and sedimentary rocks.
Therefore, the carbon dioxide supply on Earth is not entirely used up by organisms but is partitioned between different sources and sinks, with some of it being stored in Earth's carbon sinks, such as the oceans.