Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process by which autotrophic organisms (primarily plants, algae, and some bacteria) use solar energy, water, and carbon dioxide to produce organic compounds (glucose) and oxygen. This process is the primary mechanism by which carbon enters the biological carbon cycle.
Real World
Phytoplankton in the Southern Ocean fix approximately 50 billion tonnes of CO2 annually through photosynthesis — more than all terrestrial rainforests combined — making ocean productivity central to global carbon balance.
Exam Focus
Link photosynthesis explicitly to Net Primary Productivity (NPP) in answers; state which biomes have highest rates and why climate affects them.
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