Final answer:
The carbon cycle includes rapid exchange among organisms and long-term geologic processes, involving carbon reservoirs like the atmosphere, oceans, and geosphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
The carbon cycle is a biogeochemical cycle that involves the exchange of carbon between the biosphere, atmosphere, oceans, and geosphere. The cycle can be broken down into two main subcycles: a short-term cycle that includes the rapid exchange of carbon among living organisms through processes like photosynthesis and respiration, and a long-term geologic cycle that involves the carbon stored in Earth's crust. This slow movement occurs through processes such as the formation and breakdown of rocks and the release of carbon dioxide from volcanoes and the burning of fossil fuels.
Carbon reservoirs, significant in the long-term cycling of carbon, include the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and geological formations such as rocks and fossil fuels. Within these reservoirs, carbon can be stored for thousands to millions of years. Human activities have significantly altered the carbon cycle by increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.