Question

How might the collapse of the Carboniferous rainforests have affected earths carbon cycle?

A. The loss of vegetation would have decreased the total amount of carbon in earths carbon cycle.
B. Over time, the decaying vegetation would have absorbed a large amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
C. Over millions of years, decaying vegetation would have been buried and its carbon turned into fossil fuels.
D. The total amount of carbon in the carbon cycle would have increased as the vegetation decayed.

Answer 1

Atmosphere and climate. There areseveral hypotheses about the nature and cause of the Carboniferous Rainforest Collapse, some of which include climate change. ... Thecarboniferous period is characterised by the formation of coal deposits which were formed within a context of the removal of atmospheric carbon.

Over time, the decaying vegetation would have absorbed a large amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. thanks

Answer 2

Answer: D. The total amount of carbon in the carbon cycle would have increased as the vegetation decayed.

Step-by-step explanation:

Carboniferous rainforests are the carbon sinks as the vegetation absorbs the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for photosynthesis. Thus limiting the carbon dioxide levels from the atmosphere.

But the collapse of carboniferous rainforests will increase the abundance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.