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Multiple Choice
Biological carbon acts on a timescale of ______________ of years.
A
days to weeks
B
hundreds to thousands
C
seconds to minutes
D
millions to billions
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the context of the question: The problem is asking about the timescale on which biological carbon operates. Biological carbon refers to carbon that cycles through living organisms and ecosystems, such as in photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition.
Review the options provided: The timescales range from very short (seconds to minutes) to extremely long (millions to billions of years). Consider the processes involved in the biological carbon cycle.
Recall the key processes in the biological carbon cycle: Photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition typically occur over timescales of days, weeks, or years. However, the storage and cycling of carbon in ecosystems, such as in soil or biomass, can extend to hundreds or thousands of years.
Eliminate incorrect options: 'Seconds to minutes' and 'days to weeks' are too short to encompass the full biological carbon cycle. 'Millions to billions of years' refers to geological carbon processes, such as the formation of fossil fuels, not biological carbon.
Conclude that the correct timescale for biological carbon is 'hundreds to thousands of years,' as this aligns with the duration of carbon storage and cycling in ecosystems.