Main Components
| Pool | Quantity (gigatons) |
|---|---|
| Atmosphere | 720 |
| Oceans (total) | 38,400 |
| Total inorganic | 37,400 |
| Total organic | 1,000 |
| Surface layer | 670 |
| Deep layer | 36,730 |
| Lithosphere | |
| Sedimentary carbonates | > 60,000,000 |
| Kerogens | 15,000,000 |
| Terrestrial biosphere (total) | 2,000 |
| Living biomass | 600 - 1,000 |
| Dead biomass | 1,200 |
| Aquatic biosphere | 1 - 2 |
| Fossil fuels (total) | 4,130 |
| Coal | 3,510 |
| Oil | 230 |
| Gas | 140 |
| Other (peat) | 250 |
The global carbon cycle is now usually divided into the following major reservoirs of carbon interconnected by pathways of exchange:
- The atmosphere
- The terrestrial biosphere
- The oceans, including dissolved inorganic carbon and living and non-living marine biota
- The sediments, including fossil fuels, fresh water systems and non-living organic material, such as soil carbon
- The Earth's interior, carbon from the Earth's mantle and crust. These carbon stores interact with the other components through geological processes
The carbon exchanges between reservoirs occur as the result of various chemical, physical, geological, and biological processes. The ocean contains the largest active pool of carbon near the surface of the Earth. The natural flows of carbon between the atmosphere, ocean, and sediments is fairly balanced, so that carbon levels would be roughly stable without human influence.
Read more about this topic: Carbon Cycle
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