What process captures and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?

The process described in the question is carbon sequestration. This is specifically the method by which carbon dioxide (CO2) is captured from the atmosphere and stored in various forms, with the goal of reducing the greenhouse gases responsible for climate change. Carbon sequestration can occur naturally through processes such as photosynthesis, where plants absorb CO2 and convert it into organic compounds, or through human-engineered methods, such as capturing CO2 emissions from industrial sources and storing them underground.

In contrast, the carbon cycle encompasses all the processes that involve the movement of carbon through the Earth's systems, including its release and capture, but it does not specifically refer to the act of capturing and storing CO2. Respiration involves the breakdown of organic molecules, releasing CO2 back into the atmosphere, while fermentation is a metabolic process that converts sugars into acids, gases, or alcohol, also resulting in the release of CO2. Therefore, while these other options relate to carbon in some form, they do not specifically capture and store atmospheric CO2 like carbon sequestration does.