Final answer:
The carbon dioxide cycle regulates atmospheric CO₂ concentration, vital for moderate temperatures and life on Earth through the greenhouse effect. Photosynthesis and respiration cycle carbon between the atmosphere and biosphere, while human activities like deforestation and burning fossil fuels upset the natural carbon balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The importance of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) cycle relates to several crucial environmental functions. Primarily, the carbon cycle helps to regulate the concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, which in turn maintains moderate temperatures through the greenhouse effect. People may often associate the greenhouse effect with negative climatic changes; however, it is also essential for keeping Earth's temperature within a range that supports life.
Photosynthesis is a major method by which carbon is cycled, converting CO₂ from the atmosphere into organic carbon. Conversely, respiration cycles this organic carbon back into carbon dioxide gas. Long-term carbon storage occurs when organic matter from living organisms is buried and fossilizes, which then may be released back into the atmosphere through volcanic activity and human emissions like burning fossil fuels.
Human activities have augmented atmospheric CO₂ levels significantly. Activities such as deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels have reduced natural carbon sinks like forests, and introduced large amounts of stored carbon back into the atmosphere, upsetting the natural balance of the carbon cycle and contributing to global warming. This rise in CO₂ levels does not support the prevention of global warming consequences; instead, it exacerbates them. Therefore, statement 4 is inaccurate.