The carbon cycle describes the fluxes of carbon dioxide ( CO 2 ) between the oceans, terrestrial biosphere, lithosphere, and the atmosphere. Human activities such as the combustion of fossil fuels and land use changes have led to a new flux of CO 2  into the atmosphere. About 45% has remained in the atmosphere; most of the rest has been taken up by the oceans, with some taken up by terrestrial plants. The carbon cycle involves both organic compounds such as cellulose and inorganic carbon compounds such as carbon dioxide, carbonate ion, and bicarbonate ion. The inorganic compounds are particularly relevant when discussing ocean acidification for they include many forms of dissolved CO 2  present in the Earth's oceans. When CO 2  dissolves, it reacts with water to form a balance of ionic and non-ionic chemical species: dissolved free carbon dioxide ( CO 2(aq) ), carbonic acid ( H 2 CO 3 ), bicarbonate ( HCO − 3 ) and carbonate ( CO 2− 3 ). The ratio of these species depends on factor...
 
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