Carbon is absorbed by plants, converted to glucose, used as fuel for bodies, exhaled again to the air. The carbon cycle is a natural process. When we discuss global warming, we are discussing the human contributions which have thrown the steady state off balance, toward increasing amounts of carbon in the atmosphere. The primary way in which humans throw off the carbon cycle is by burning fossil fuels - nature s stored reserves of almost pure carbon. In addition to the combustion of fuels which contributes substantially to rising levels of CO 2 in the atmosphere, industrialization of our world has also led to rampant deforestation.
Deforestation also disrupts the Carbon Cycle.
In order to predict the effects or to determine the source of the effects already seen, we must be able to quantify the contributions of carbon made to the environment. Molecules are tiny and so they are not easily counted. You could count them, but that would take a long time and, as usual, you re in a hurry. An alternative solution would be to weigh the pillowcase of cotton balls. Then weigh one of the cotton balls.