The research area of carbon balance focuses on understanding and quantifying the exchange of carbon dioxide (CO2) between the atmosphere and various ecosystems, such as forests, grasslands, wetlands, and agricultural lands. This field of study seeks to determine the sources and sinks of carbon in different ecosystems, and how human activities, such as deforestation and fossil fuel burning, impact the global carbon cycle. Researchers in this area use a variety of techniques, including remote sensing, field measurements, and modeling, to assess the amount of carbon stored in vegetation and soils, as well as the rate at which carbon is released back into the atmosphere. The ultimate goal of carbon balance research is to improve our understanding of the Earth's carbon cycle and its role in climate change.