This work examines the comparative impact on the carbon cycle, of harvested plant biomass combustion vs. fossil carbon combustion. A common carbon cycle model is shown to possess limitations and inconsistencies that lead to physically unrealistic predictions. The model is modified, so as to incorporate harvested biomass combustion as an energy resource, and the dependence of the photosynthesis rate on leaf area, rather than vegetated land area. The newly proposed model is validated with fossil fuel usage and atmospheric CO₂ concentration data, since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Although, biomass is generally considered to be a green energy source, it is shown in this work that biomass burning may result in a higher, long term, CO₂ atmospheric concentration than fossil carbon burning, depending on the rate of burning and reforestation intensity. A close examination of the characterization of harvested biomass as a renewable energy source is warranted.

这项工作研究了收获的植物生物质燃烧与化石碳燃烧对碳循环的比较影响。常见的碳循环模型显示出局限性和不一致性，导致物理上不切实际的预测。对该模型进行了修改，以便将收获的生物质燃烧作为一种能源，并将光合作用速率与叶面积（而不是植被土地面积）的依赖性结合起来。自工业革命开始以来，新提出的模型已通过化石燃料使用和大气CO ₂浓度数据进行了验证。尽管通常认为生物质是一种绿色能源，但这项工作表明，燃烧生物质可能会导致较高的长期CO ₂排放。大气中的浓度要比化石碳燃烧的高，取决于燃烧的速度和重新造林的强度。必须仔细检查收获的生物质作为可再生能源的特性。