Deposits of coal are important in the carbon cycle because they
A)keep humans from burning more trees by serving as a fuel source.
B)serve as a reservoir of carbon that will eventually be released into the ecosystem.
C)lock up carbon so that it can never be returned to the atmosphere to make global warming increase.
D)make carbon readily available to plants through their roots growing down into the coal deposit.
E)serve as short-term storage for carbons.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Deposits of coal are formed from ancient plant material and contain large amounts of carbon. When coal is burned or otherwise disturbed, this carbon is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming. Therefore, coal deposits serve as a reservoir of carbon that will eventually be released into the ecosystem.

Deposits of Coal Are Important in the Carbon Cycle Because