Fossil fuels contribute to global warming through the carbon cycle in part because fossil fuels are extracted from the ground, and then burned. This adds carbon that was in the ground to the atmosphere.

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The question statement asserts that fossil fuels contribute to global warming through the carbon cycle because they are extracted from the ground and then burned, releasing carbon that was previously stored underground into the atmosphere.

First, consider the core idea: carbon locked in fossil fuels is released as carbon dioxide (CO2) when fuels are burned. This adds to the atmospheric CO2 reservoir, which enhances the greenhouse effect and leads to warming.

Next, how this connects to the carbon cycle: carbon is stored underground in fossil fuels for millions of years. When we mine and combust these fuels, we transfer that stored carbon to the atmosphere, increasing the atmospheric concentration of CO2, a major greenhouse gas. This is consistent with the well-established carbon cycle model where human activities perturb the balance by adding CO2 that would otherwise remain sequestered.

Additionally, the statement aligns with climate science explaining that fossil fuel combustion is a primary driver of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, contributing to long-term climate change through increased radiative forcing.

In summary, the reasoning behind the statement is scientifically sound: extraction and burning of fossil fuels release underground carbon into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to global warming via the carbon cycle.

BIOEE1610 Lecture 19: Post-Lecture: C02 Cycle S22V2

Fossil fuels contribute to global warming through the carbon cycle in part because fossil fuels are extracted from the ground, and then burned. This adds carbon that was in the ground to the atmosphere.

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