Carbon Sequestration & Natural Sinks Quiz
Forests, soils, wetlands (10 questions).
Carbon Sequestration & Natural Sinks Quiz: Quick Study Notes
Natural carbon sinks play a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate by absorbing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This quiz explores the mechanisms and significance of major terrestrial sinks: forests, soils, and wetlands, highlighting their capacity to mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration.
Key Natural Carbon Sinks
Forests absorb CO2 through photosynthesis, storing carbon in biomass (trees, roots) and forest soils. Old-growth forests are particularly effective long-term sinks.
Soil organic matter (SOM) is a vast carbon reservoir. Practices like no-till farming, cover cropping, and agroforestry enhance soil carbon sequestration.
Peatlands, mangroves, and salt marshes are ‘blue carbon’ ecosystems. Their waterlogged, anaerobic conditions slow decomposition, leading to massive carbon accumulation.
Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. Natural sinks leverage biological and geological processes to achieve this, reducing greenhouse gases.
Key Takeaways
- Forests are crucial for carbon uptake via photosynthesis, storing it in biomass and soil.
- Soil organic matter (SOM) is a significant global carbon reservoir, enhanced by sustainable agricultural practices.
- Wetlands, including peatlands and coastal “blue carbon” ecosystems, are highly effective carbon sinks due to anaerobic conditions that inhibit decomposition.
- Deforestation, unsustainable land use, and wetland degradation release stored carbon, contributing to climate change.
- Protecting and restoring natural carbon sinks is vital for climate change mitigation and maintaining biodiversity.
- “Blue carbon” ecosystems (mangroves, salt marshes, seagrass) are particularly efficient coastal carbon sinks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is carbon sequestration?
Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. It aims to reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, thereby mitigating climate change.
How do forests sequester carbon?
Forests sequester carbon primarily through photosynthesis, where trees absorb CO2 from the air to grow, storing carbon in their trunks, branches, leaves, roots, and the soil beneath them.
Why are soils important for carbon storage?
Soils are a massive carbon sink, storing carbon as soil organic matter (SOM). This organic carbon comes from decomposed plant and animal remains. Healthy soils, especially grasslands and agricultural lands managed sustainably, can hold significant amounts of carbon.
What makes wetlands effective carbon sinks?
Wetlands, particularly peatlands, mangroves, and salt marshes, are effective carbon sinks because their waterlogged, anaerobic (oxygen-poor) conditions slow down the decomposition of organic matter, allowing it to accumulate over millennia as peat or sediment.
What are “blue carbon” ecosystems?
“Blue carbon” refers to the carbon captured by the world’s ocean and coastal ecosystems. Key blue carbon habitats include mangrove forests, salt marshes, and seagrass meadows, which are highly efficient at sequestering and storing carbon in their biomass and sediments.
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