Question

volcanic activity also releases carbon stored below earths surface into the atmosphere. when they erupt, volcanoes release lava, ash, and gases, including co₂. over earths history, volcanic activity has emitted a large amount of co₂ into the atmosphere. however, the amount of co₂ emitted by volcanoes each year is small compared to the amount emitted by fossil fuel combustion. for example, the 1980 eruption of mount saint helens in washington state released 10 million tons of co₂ into the atmosphere over 9 hours. by comparison, human activities emit that same amount of co₂ in just 2.5 hours. the 1980 eruption of mount saint helens determine how carbon moves during each process. complete the table. | | fossil fuel formation | fossil fuel combustion | volcanic activity | |---|---|---|---| | carbon moves from the biosphere to the geosphere. | | | | | carbon moves from the geosphere to the atmosphere, mostly due to human activities. | | | | | carbon moves from the geosphere to the atmosphere due to natural events. | | | |

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze Fossil Fuel Formation

Fossil fuel formation involves the burial of organic matter (from the biosphere, like plants and animals) into the geosphere (underground) over time. So carbon moves from the biosphere to the geosphere here.

Step2: Analyze Fossil Fuel Combustion

Fossil fuel combustion (burning of fuels like coal, oil, gas from the geosphere) releases carbon (as \(CO_2\)) into the atmosphere, and this is a major human - caused activity. So carbon moves from the geosphere to the atmosphere, mostly due to human activities here.

Step3: Analyze Volcanic Activity

Volcanic activity releases carbon stored in the geosphere (under Earth's surface) into the atmosphere as gases (including \(CO_2\)) during eruptions, and this is a natural event. So carbon moves from the geosphere to the atmosphere due to natural events here.

Now, for the table:

• For "Carbon moves from the biosphere to the geosphere", the correct process is Fossil fuel formation (so mark the circle under Fossil fuel formation for this row).
• For "Carbon moves from the geosphere to the atmosphere, mostly due to human activities", the correct process is Fossil fuel combustion (so mark the circle under Fossil fuel combustion for this row).
• For "Carbon moves from the geosphere to the atmosphere due to natural events", the correct process is Volcanic activity (so mark the circle under Volcanic activity for this row).

Answer:

• "Carbon moves from the biosphere to the geosphere": Mark the circle under "Fossil fuel formation".
• "Carbon moves from the geosphere to the atmosphere, mostly due to human activities": Mark the circle under "Fossil fuel combustion".
• "Carbon moves from the geosphere to the atmosphere due to natural events": Mark the circle under "Volcanic activity".