Final answer:
Carbon is cycled through the atmosphere via both cellular respiration and photosynthesis, both crucial processes of the carbon cycle that balance the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen. Plants and animals respire, adding CO2 to the atmosphere, while plants photosynthesize, using CO2 to produce oxygen and organic compounds, which are then used in cellular respiration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carbon moves through the atmosphere through both cellular respiration and photosynthesis. These two processes are integral components of the carbon cycle, working in concert to regulate the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Through cellular respiration, animals and plants release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Conversely, through photosynthesis, plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, using it to produce oxygen and glucose, thereby supporting life and maintaining ecological balance.
The carbon cycle is crucial as it circulates carbon among the atmosphere, organisms, and the earth. Cellular respiration and photosynthesis create a balance, with cellular respiration using oxygen to convert glucose into energy, carbon dioxide, and water, while photosynthesis transforms carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen, powered by light energy. This cyclical exchange ensures that both carbon dioxide and oxygen remain at stable levels in the atmosphere, which is essential for life on Earth.
Furthermore, the combustion of organic matter, including the burning of fossil fuels, also contributes to the atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, impacting the carbon cycle and potentially leading to environmental concerns such as global warming.