Is all of Earth's carbon dioxide supply constantly being used by organisms? (1 point)
• No, some is stored in Earth's carbon sinks, such as the oceans.
• Yes, and it briefly passes through the atmosphere as it cycles between organisms.
• No, some is stored in Earth's only carbon sink, the atmosphere.
• Yes, and it is used up as soon as it is formed.
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.
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 the carbon cycle. The carbon cycle is the process by which carbon moves between different parts of the Earth system, including the atmosphere, land, and oceans. It involves various processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, and oceanic absorption.
While organisms on Earth, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, do use carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, not all of the Earth's carbon dioxide supply is constantly being used by organisms. Some carbon dioxide is stored in Earth's carbon sinks, which are reservoirs that accumulate and store carbon over a long period of time.
One significant carbon sink is the oceans. The oceans absorb and store large amounts of carbon dioxide, acting as a natural regulator of the atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Through the process of oceanic absorption, carbon dioxide dissolves in the ocean water and can be stored for extended periods. This helps to regulate the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and mitigate the impacts of excess greenhouse gases.
Therefore, it is important to understand that while organisms use carbon dioxide during their life processes, a significant portion of the Earth's carbon dioxide supply is stored in carbon sinks like the oceans. Hence, the answer is: No, some is stored in Earth's carbon sinks, such as the oceans.