Carbon. we are carbon-based life forms. carbon cycles between earth's spheres. when viewing the earth as a system, the
atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and the biosphere are referred to as carbon pools or reservoirs because they act as
storage houses for large amounts of carbon. any movement of carbon between these reservoirs is called a flux. in any
integrated system, fluxes connect reservoirs together to create cycles and feedbacks.
compare the two models seen here. both illustrate carbon's movement or fluxes. model i provides an important detail missing
from model ii.
a)
modell provides quantitative data.
b)
model il does not show the direction of the flux.
c)
model i distinguishes between natural and anthropogenic flux.
d)
model l includes both photosynthesis and cellular respiration.