The Carbon Cycle – Atmospheric Focus

Patrick LouryNeil Swanson

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/CarbonCycle/page1.php

Carbon Fluxes and Residence TimesInflux of atmospheric carbon is greater than the outflux:• Non-steady state conditions• The atmosphere is growing as a

carbon reservoir

Residence Times:• Carbon Dioxide: Variable, but on the order

of hundreds of years• Methane: 10.5 ± 1.8 years

http://www.epa.gov/outreach/scientific.html

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/CarbonCycle/page5.php