Table 1. Carbon pools in the major reservoirs on Earth

Pools Quantity (Gt)

Atmosphere

720




Oceans

38,400

  • Total inorganic
  • 37,400

  • Surface layer
  • 670

  • Deep layer
  • 36,730

  • Total organic
  • 1,000




    Lithosphere
  • Sedimentary carbonates
  • >60,000,000

  • Kerogens
  • 15,000,000




    Terrestrial biosphere (total)

    2,000

  • Living biomass
  • 600-1,000

  • Dead biomass
  • 1,200




    Aquatic biosphere

    1-2




    Fossil fuels

    4,130

  • Coal
  • 3,510

  • Oil
  • 230

  • Gas
  • 140

  • Other (peat)
  • 250


    Source: P. Falkowski, et al. 2001: The Global Carbon Cycle: A Test of Our Knowledge of Earth as a System. Science, 290, 291-296.