NGSS HS-LS2-5: Develop a model to illustrate the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in the cycling of carbon among the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.
The ocean naturally absorbs some excess CO₂.
Photosynthesis removes carbon from the atmosphere and stores it in the biosphere (plants). Cellular Respiration by animals and plants returns it to the atmosphere. Historically, these two processes balanced each other out.
Combustion takes carbon stored long ago in the geosphere (fossil fuels) and rapidly adds it to the atmosphere, disrupting the balance. The Hydrosphere (oceans) acts as a massive sink, slowly absorbing some of this excess carbon, but not fast enough to prevent atmospheric accumulation.