The carbon cycle is that part of the biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of Earth. Other major biogeochemical cycles include the nitrogen cycle and the water cycle. Carbon is the main component of biological compounds as well as a major component of many minerals such as limestone. The carbon cycle comprises a sequence of events that are key to making Earth capable of sustaining life. It describes the movement of carbon as it is recycled and reused throughout the biosphere, as well as long-term processes of carbon sequestration (storage) to and release from carbon sinks.

ಇಂಗಾಲದ ಚಕ್ರವೆಂಬುದು ಜೀವಭೂರಾಸಾಯನಿಕ ಚಕ್ರ. ಇದರಿಂದ ಇಂಗಾಲವು ಹಲವು ವಲಯಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ವಿನಿಮಯ ಹೊಂದುತ್ತದೆ; ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಭೂಮಿಯ ಜೀವ ಮಂಡಳ, ಭೂಖಂಡ ಗೋಳ, ಮಣ್ಣುಗೋಳ, ಜಲಗೋಳ ಮತ್ತು ವಾಯುಗೋಳ ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ. ಇದು ಭೂಮಿ ಮೇಲಿನ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಮಹತ್ವದ ಚಕ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲೊಂದಾಗಿದೆ. ಇದು ಜೀವಗೋಳ ಮತ್ತು ಅದರ ಎಲ್ಲ ಜೀವಾಣುಗಳಾದ್ಯಂತ ಇಂಗಾಲದ ಮರುಬಳಕೆಗೆ ಅನುಮತಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.