Alex wrote a few steps to describe how carbon circulates between the atmosphere and the oceans. Step 1. As air passes over the ocean, carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean. Step 2. Carbon dioxide is absorbed by aquatic plants in the process of photosynthesis. Step 3. Carbon is stored in aquatic life or released back into seawater from living things through a process called respiration. If step 2 is removed, which statement best describes the effects of this missing step on the carbon cycle?