Final answer:
Deforestation and burning fossil fuels add carbon to the atmosphere, while planting trees and photosynthesis remove it. These activities work in balance as part of the Earth's carbon cycle, which is critical in regulating our climate and ecosystem health.
Step-by-step explanation:
Activities such as deforestation not only reduce the number of trees that utilize carbon dioxide through photosynthesis but also release stored carbon when trees are burned or decay. Planting trees contrasts this effect by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, storing it in the plant's structure, and contributing to a healthier carbon cycle.
The burning of fossil fuels and natural events like volcanic activity significantly increase the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In essence, trees and plants function as carbon sinks during photosynthesis but contribute to carbon emissions through respiration and when they die, while burning fossil fuels consistently adds to our atmospheric carbon burden.
These complex interactions between carbon sources and sinks are central to our understanding of climate change and the overall health of our planet's ecosystems.